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I Had a Real Weekend and Did Stuff!!

Finally!! A real day out!!

A couple of weekends ago, I ran the Hartford Marathon Foundation Red Dress 5K – I’ve done this one several times and it’s always a fun day. It’s a women’s only event but husbands and dads and sons all show up to support women’s health.

Lots of the women wear a lot of red. I don’t really have much red so I wear what I want and that’s okay!

But let me back up!

Kathy came down on Friday and, after my delayed Thursday run, we headed to the Riverfront in Hartford for the Riverfront Recapture Food Truck Festival. Generally we’d go Saturday after the 5K but Kathy had other plans (and I had 5 more miles to run!) Tons of great food – Kathy had something from the Jamaican truck and I had some Poutine because…fries. We even brought Phred with us since it was all outside and he hasn’t had an adventure in awhile! After we grabbed our food and beers we sat and did a TON of people watching! This even seems to always coincide with ConnectiCon – which means lots and lots of costumes (some of which I even recognized from famous movies like Star Wars!) Also, Jesus was there….???

This stuff is right up my alley, but I skipped for some poutine

We went home and got into jammies pretty early for a night of “scary” movies (quality questionable as always!) – though I think I chose pretty well this time! (The Forest and Shut In – check them out!)

Got up early on Saturday to head to West Hartford for the run/race! At packet pickup there are several tables of various healthcare type booths giving away grocery bags and First Aid kits. The race is held in and around Elizabeth Park which has an amazing rose garden!

The course seems to have changed the last few years, probably due to road work in the area but it’s always a nice one. I kept with my 45:30 intervals for most of the time and managed to keep my pace under 14 so I was happy. The post race treat is a yogurt parfait. Back when I first started doing this 5K the post race treat was strawberry shortcake and, of course, that was my main motivation for doing it in the first place. And sometimes there are extra treats…..I’m looking at you NoRa Cupcakes! Sadly, though, this year there was no NoRa But we did get a rose from some of the event people!

And, even though I didn’t get a #FlatAnne picture before the race – since I didn’t know what I was going to wear! – I did manage one after 3 miles!

Tags: 5K, running, Training

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Categories Hartford Marathon Foundation, Red Dress Run For Women, Running

So You Want to Run a Marathon?

27 Dec

Or, a Half Marathon. Or even a 10K or 5K. Or….there are crazy people who run hundred miles and fifty miles at a time but that’s a whole ‘nother nother.

I’ve mentioned my favorite full is Marine Corps Marathon a few times but a LOT of people – and I mean A. LOT. – think that the Walt Disney World Marathon is a great first time marathon. And it is definitely fun!! RunDisney also offers shorter distances from 5K all the way up to the Marathon in this one weekend!

But whatever event you choose – Cigna, presenting sponsor of the above mentioned WDW Marathon Weekend – has pulled together this cool infographic with some important tips for working through your training plan!

Then

So, choose your distance and find a plan. Then, the sky’s the limit!!

Tags: #CignaRunTogether, #GoKnowControl, Cigna, Training

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Categories Cigna, runDisney, Running, Training

Summer is Finally Here….Maybe

7 Jun

We’re a week into June and it looks like the weather maybe taking a turn towards summer-like here in New England. Let’s hope so!!

Anyway, I haven’t done a wrap-up in awhile so I thought I’d take a break from re-cap after recap of races long gone to do a little update and look forward 🙂

And what better time than the early days of June to get a ‘fresh start’ 🙂

With the year nearly half gone, a check in on my ‘resolutions’ would probably be a good idea, right? It’ll be short for sure:

Not so great with the resolutions so far. Yeah. It’s been lazy-time for yours truly!

May has been full of the things though – some good, some not so good and then some not so good that worked out okay!

The not so good:

I found out early in the month (or maybe in late April…) that my current contract wasn’t going to be extended past the end of June. This meant it was time to start looking for a job again! Definitely not one of my favorite activities – but I was getting a lot of help from people I work with – or have worked with in the past (thanks Betty!!). I had one informal ‘interview’ for what my mom would’ve called “a real job”. She wasn’t thrilled with my consulting I think! Still no word on that one but it’s at the top of my I want to do this list. Late breaking UPDATE though – my current manager has found a way to keep me through the end of the year! Keeping up with my same role but adding some more fun!

Also not so good? My running/working out/nutrition/#allofit – I’ve really fallen off of the get healthy and lose weight bandwagon this year! I’m getting back up to my heaviest weight ever – EEK! I have run a couple of times on my own, and one half marathon (Marine Corps Historic Half) but my training for Marine Corps Marathon and #Dopey18 starts on June 16 and I swear this year I’m sticking to the plan!! I’m accepting suggestions for ways to motivate/reward myself – preferably NOT with a cupcake – to follow plan!!

Now the good? Well, probably the best thing that’s happened is my nephew graduated from high school! I can’t even believe he’s gotten so old!! And…he also turned 18 which just can’t even be possible!! More on him later – I have to gather the appropriate pictures 😀

The graduate….

A week before the big day!!

Conor on his last night as a 17 year old – with Pop and Colin

Also good? My friends. Not that anything dramatic has happened, it’s just nice to be reminded that I have some awesome friends because sometimes we forget, right?

So. Coming up for the rest of the summer?

As mentioned, training starts in a week or so. I know right now the first week will be tough since it is also the week of the Traveler’s Championship golf tournament that I volunteer at every year. That means really long days at the golf course and just enough spare time to wash my clothes and sleep! So….I may give myself a pass for week 1 but I know it isn’t the ideal way to start!

I have a few 5Ks in my calendar through the summer and those are always pretty fun!

I’m also considering another Whole 30 — it’s been about 4 years since I last made an attempt and I need *something* to reset my eating habits so we’ll see about this one! But…I will miss you pizza and cheese. And wine. I will miss you most of all 🙂 This is also something that I would wait until after the tournament to start because it might be hard to find compliant food at the concession stands! At a bare minimum I *will* be cleaning up my eating habits!

So let’s all think good thoughts that I can get back on track!

And now…back to my recap catch-up!! This next one is a doozy!! 😀

Tags: Motivation, Plan, resolutions, Training

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Categories Exercise, Health, Running

Short and Sweet

28 Feb

Just like me 🙂

Last week’s training did not go as planned or hoped. But I’m not beating myself up about it because all around it was a good week for me and I accomplished a lot – a lot of not running!!!

Plan?

Tuesday – 5 Miles
Wednesday – 6 Miles
Thursday – 4 Miles
Saturday – 12 Miles (I really need to do at least something long this month!)
Sunday – 3 Miles (this must be what they mean by ‘taper’!)

I’m not going to go day by day to tell you what I didn’t do. Instead I will tell you what I *did* do!!

Wednesday – I ran 5 at the gym
Saturday – I ran 11 outside.

That’s right. Short sleeves and capris the last weekend of February – in New England! It was gorgeous. And, if we know anything we know I hate hills and tend to walk up them. But Saturday, in the first 6 miles I ran up most of the hills I usually walk.

I call that a win!

This coming week – short training week cause the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon is on SATURDAY!!!

Tuesday – 4 Miles (I already can say I likely won’t do this – I have a meeting after work and won’t get home til late…)
Wednesday – 4 Miles
Thursday – 2 Miles
Saturday – HALF MARATHON!!!

I’m pretty excited about this – it’s a new race for me and I love the beach. I will probably regret not staying down there longer but it isn’t like I can’t go back, right?!!

So I will do what I can this week but at this point, isn’t all up to relying on what I know I can do and having a good time!?!

Tags: Half marathon, Training

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Categories Galloway, Goals, Myrtle Beach Half Marathon, Running

Progress, Not Perfection…

14 Feb

First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day to all!!!

It’s Tuesday morning — and I didn’t wrap up yesterday. Instead I went to an actual Valentine’s event. Granted it was at a cupcake shop so cupcakes were purchased (and all but one put in the freezer cause…well, they aren’t what I need right now but I will need them one day!)

But I digress…..Let’s get to it

The plan this week said:

Tuesday – 5 Miles
Wednesday – 8 Miles
Thursday – 5 Miles
Saturday – Rest day
Sunday – 10K Race (I don’t have anything in the calendar but will run 6.2 – or close to it – on Sunday!)

What happened was:

Tuesday – Did not run 5 miles….did not run at all
Wednesday – Also, did not run (What on earth is WRONG with me!?!?!)
Thursday – Ran 5 miles. On a treadmill. EARLY in the morning! Snow storm was coming and I knew if I didn’t get to the gym nothing would happen for days!
Friday – Friday is usually a rest day. I went for a massage…
Saturday – Another 5 at the gym. Things are looking up!
Sunday – 8 on the ‘mill. Watching the lady Ghostbusters (is that appropriate?) Again, getting it in before snow flies

So I got it all in except a 10K race which, let’s be honest. We know me. If I don’t have a race on my calendar I’m not making up my own Amiright?

Coming up this week….

Tuesday – 5 Miles
Wednesday – 8 Miles
Thursday – 5 Miles
Saturday – 11 Miles (yikes!)
Sunday – 5 Miles

Hoping for good weather this weekend but if not I’m hopping on the treadmill again – if nothing else I get to watch movies I might not pick for myself!

Myrtle Beach Countdown – about 18 days away!