My PSA

Today I made a choice. It was a choice to adjust my schedule to do something that I truly feel good when I walk away from- running. No matter how much a procrastinate getting to the start of a run or how much I feel like junk ahead of time or even during it, I always feel like a rockstar when I’m done, a freaking badass ready to take on whatever comes my way today! And I know that I feel this way because I took time for me.

Your run may be a quiet cup of coffee reading a book, or yoga or swimming or watching that half hour show that you fell asleep before the end the other night. Whatever it is that makes you happy, you MUST take the time to do, even for 10 minutes a day. Because this life is so short and if you don't do it for yourself then its pretty unlikely anyone will tell you to do it. This world is so busy and there are constant pressures to get everything done quicker and faster while juggling work and relationships and family and just life. 

I know when I take some time to do what I love I am better, I am a better mom, a better friend, and more focused at work. Let’s make this happen today people! Practice taking 10 minutes for you, no kids, no chores and laundry and multi-tasking, JUST YOU! I promise you will feel like a million bucks!

photo credit

RunCLE40- Eating better and more miles

Week 3 of training was good! I’m feeling a little bit stronger day by day and that is exciting! I have also started to eat a little bit better. Yeah, I know. I’m as shocked as you are! Work is hosting a biggest loser contest for the next few months so I figured double motivation to eat better, loose the darn cookie weight from the holidays and get my ass back into some decent shape. Now, I am not one to harp on healthy eating because I sure do enjoy myself a hostess cupcake as much as the next guy, but I know moderation and eating MOSTLY healthy is key. Side note: to this day, I strongly regret not paying as much attention to my nutrition class in college as I should have, but at least I have Pintrest! So, I’m eating better, I have more energy, I feel way more focused and sleeping like a baby. A baby that puts two other babies to bed and then gets up at the ass crack, but I digress. Eating better is a great idea!  Some of my favorite healthy snacks are: hard boiled eggs, peanut butter toast, lots of berries and apples and vanilla yogurt with some granola in it. It’s a start and a step in the right direction.

Since May seems like it’s right around the corner, I’m thinking of other races that I can run to prep for May. I may possibly do the Youngstown Distance classic which is March 5^th. It’s a half marathon, but I think it would help me get in race mode. I’m also considering the Hall of Fame half in April. And for a post CLE race, I’m really excited to be a part of the Youngstown half marathon that is an inaugural race June 4th, I think it’s a great way to celebrate my birthday weekend too!

It was a good week of training. Working out on my lunch break is what I have found to be the key for my success. It’s a win- win really. It doesn’t take time away from the kids in the evenings and it really energizes me mid-day to help me be focused for the rest of the day. Lots of people have asked how I can fit it all in. Generally, I get 35-40minutes to work out. And yes, I can fit in a 1 minute shower to rinse off the sweat. I don’t do much to my hair, but 100% of the time I am really happy that I took the time to go.

Here is what last week looked like for me

	Workout
Sun	Trip home from Buffalo
Mon	3 miles at lunch 11:24 pace
Tues	Long meeting at lunch- no lunch workout- grrr
Wed	4 miles with Lynanne
Thurs	TBT class- cardio and weights
Fri	3 miles
Sat	7 miles in the sun- what???   YES, the SUN in January in OHIO!

Things you should know this week:

• New this year, all participants will receive and awesome CLE 40^th anniversary keychain!

• If you are reading this as a new year’s resolutioner then congratulations! You made it past Janurary 17^th which is ditch day, the day that most people give up on their resolutions!  I’m so proud of your for sticking with it! It’s not always easy and way more fun to say in bed, keep watching that show and the list goes on, but if you want the result you need to stick it out!

  

• If you want a chance to run the Cleveland Marathon with me for free- Check out my friend Andrew’s blog for a chance to win! He’s a fellow ambassador and a bad ass runner!

And be sure to see what all of my other fellow ambassadors are doing! You can also follow me on IG @running_with_jazzhands!

Have a jazz-tastic week!

RunCLE40- New shoes and Elmo

Week 2 of training felt like a good one!

I was able to get some kind of activity in mostly every day, even if it was just 2 quick lunchtime miles and I’m feeling great about it! This month is just about moving more frequently than I have been and getting my butt back to the gym and running. It just feels good to be back into a routine. And let’s not pretend for a second that those new cushy socks with the longer backs that don’t slip into your shoes that I scored with my Kohl’s cash and my new kicks aren’t motivating the hell out of me! New awesome gear is the really the best!

So, I’m back at it. My major race of the year is Cleveland and I can’t wait!  I’m planning to run the half marathon this year. I may be doing the Challenge series too, but logistically I’m trying to work that out. And check this out..

I’m super honored and excited to be a part of this race again! This is year 3 and I can’t say enough about how amazing it’s been to connect with the other ambassadors and the people who run this race. They motivate and inspire me daily!

I feel good to be preparing for the half marathon this year. It’s the right distance for me for the time that I can commit to it. There will be a day in the future that I’ll be running a full again, but that day is not today and I’m totally ok with it. My best training girl Lynanne is running the Pittsburgh full again this year, so on the weekends that I can run with her, I’ll be joining her for her long runs which will be fun! My main goal of the year is to crush my half marathon PR which is 2:21:23 from last year’s insane Cleveland marathon. You can see that recap here. I also have started to go back to my TBT classes at lunch which is short for Total Body Toning: it’s a mix of weights and some cardio. This class kicks my butt in the best way possible.

Here is what last week looked like for me

	Workout
Sun	Arm workout at the gym
Mon	2.7 miles at lunch
Tues	TBT
Wed	3 miles with Lynanne
Thurs	2 miles before work
Fri	5 miles, before work and at lunch
Sat	Road trip to Buffalo- Does a dance party with Elmo count as cardio?

This weekend the boys and I went to my sister’s house in Buffalo to celebrate my sweet nephew who turned 2! He loves Elmo so what is better than a dance party with the furry red guy and then some cake? We had a blast and really enjoyed some serious family time. 

Things you should know this week:

1. Fellow ambassador Jill has her book launch party this Saturday in Lakewood! You can check her book out here and even meet her and have her sign your book this weekend at Mahalls in Lakewood from 1:30-3:30.



2. This is more of a thing to do, but after you sign up for Cleveland, you should book your hotel too! I can’t tell you how much better it is when you are actually there for the race weekend instead of driving in and finding parking on top of trying to feeling cool and calm before a race. This is on my list of things to do this week for sure!



3. You are amazing! Yes, YOU and you can do anything you set your mind to so set those goals and start checking them off!

As always be sure to check out what my fellow ambassadors are up to this week, there are some fun giveaways happening !  You can also follow me on IG @running_with_jazzhands!

Have a jazz-tastic week!

RunCLE40- Lets do this 2017!!

If you are new to my blog, welcome!  And thanks so much for stopping by!  I’m Melissa, a (mid) 30 something mom of 2 of the coolest little guys in the world!  Running is the thing that I do for me, it’s my hobby and my stress relief and I just feel better if I get out there for a few miles. I’m lucky enough to be part of the Cleveland Marathon for the 3^rd year as an ambassador. This year is going to be amazing because it’s the 40^th anniversary race and the Marathon has been geared up since last year preparing for all of the fun stuff to celebrate! And although I have actually completed a full marathon, I have fallen far away from the running bandwagon and after a few months of not really running and enjoying the holiday cookie table a little bit too much. So, I’m starting at the very beginning again. Just putting one foot in front of the other and taking it one day at a time. 

I’m sure many of you have been thinking about how to make this year the best year yet. And if you found me thru the Marathon page you may be looking for some inspiration. I think that my best piece of advice for you is to just get moving. 
Move!!! Just 20 minutes a day to begin with for this month. Just get up, put your shoes on and get out the door! You can walk, jog, run, chase your kid on their bike, walk the dog, or even walk around the block on your lunch break. But just get out there, you owe it to yourself. There are proven health benefits from 20 minutes of walking a day: better mood, more energy, longer life, better memory, weight loss, the list goes on and on! 

 

Everyone is busy, but in the same token, everyone has some source of stress that they would probably love to feel better about. The last couple years of my life I have gone thru a lot of personal stress and running is the thing that I did for me that I know kept me sane and focused.  I did not self-destruct, I got my butt out there and so can you! So, get out there!  Get those 20 minutes done today!
So this is my first week back training and it was honestly a great start! I was able to get some decent lunchtime runs in without stopping (always a sign of heading in the right direction). I made a huge effort to get some kind of movement every day this week and feel like kind of a rock star for it! It was the best way to kick off the year! Here is how my week turned out.

	Workout
Sun	4 miles with Lynanne
Mon	HIIT pintrest workout while the kids were in the tub
Tues	2 miles at lunch
Wed	2 miles at lunch
Thurs	TBT at lunch
Fri	-
Sat	4 mile kickoff run

Speaking of kickoffs, I also joined some of my fellow Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors for a kickoff run yesterday! It was seriously chilly and if it hadn’t been for them being there, I would undoubtedly opted to run the inside track instead. But, I layered on all the clothes (right Rachel?) and made the drive and it was totally worth it!  Spending time with them is always so fun and inspiring!  I ran more than a minute faster than my average pace when I joined them! Just the confidence booster that I needed that I can get back to where I was and where I would like to be!  

 

If you want to get inspired too and hang out with more of the Ambassadors this weekend you can join them at the Fleet Feet in Westlake on Saturday @9:30 for the second kickoff training run! Sign up on the website here. I promise you won’t be sorry that you made it out!
This week I’m super excited because I get to do a Book Giveaway for my fellow Am(bad ass)ador Jill! Did you see how that worked out?  Not that great, OK moving on! Anyways, Jill IS a Bad Ass and I’m super lucky to have met her thru the marathon and even luckier to call her a friend! She published an amazing book and is kind enough to send one of you guys a signed copy!  You can check out her book here! I’ll be doing the giveaway on IG early this week!  

 

As always check out my fellow ambassadors are up to! And hop on over to IG and follow me and the Cleveland marathon there too!