Oooops! Official Marathon training hasn't even started yet and I'm already slacking on my blog! I'll blame it on family time and Thanksgiving taking up all my time over the last week :)
Can't remember what I did exactly for training last week but I know it included a few short runs, some swims and definitely some yoga! I also had my first team meeting with the MS Marathon Team which was AWESOME! I am so lucky to be running with so many inspiring people. And FYI, our coach is an Ironman Winner at the World Championships in Kona. Ummmm hello badass! Our training schedule comes out sometime this week and Saturday morning long runs start next weekend. This is getting real fast!
I've been on vacation all of Thanksgiving week and was lucky enough to spend it down in Rhode Island with family and friends. Diet was of course going to be a challenge this week (although I did better than expected) so I wanted to make sure I was on top of my workouts.
Monday: 4 mile run along the beautiful East Bay Bike Path in Bristol. I feel so spoiled when I get to run at home in Bristol.... talk about some beautiful scenery! This was my first REALLY cold run on the year, and I have to say... running along the ocean may be beautiful but damn it was windy. I felt like I was moving backwards on the way back haha. I spent the rest of the afternoon with Dad putting up the Christmas lights... I think climbing up and down that ladder counts as a workout as well :)
Tuesday: Another 4 mile run, this time I took a right turn into Colt State Park. Again... gorgeous. I was lucky to grow up in such a beautiful place.
Wednesday started out fantastic! Managed to convince my Mom to come with me to her first yoga class in 20 years. She claimed to hate yoga... hey, that sounds familiar! But I thought it would be good for her to try. It was the perfect class... Mostly beginners and the teacher moved nice and slow. She admitted to enjoying herself afterwards! Thanks to the Bristol Yoga Studio... you made 6:30AM yoga enjoyable :)
Later on Wednesday I got a totally different workout... Dolly (my cat) escaped my parents house at some point on Wednesday morning and we didn't realize it till later in the afternoon. I must have walked 6 miles around my neighborhood over and over again looking for her. Long story short, she came back from her little adventure when she was ready and all is well. Unfortunately it lead to a little stress eating on my part... hellllooo wine and cheese.
Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving! I had every intention of going for a morning run before the big meal but I just ran out of time. But it was a wonderful day and a fantastic meal with my parents and my aunts. I was pretty proud of myself at dinner... I had a taste of everything, but was really careful about portions. I left the dinner table satisfied but not "stuffed". That was a win! We closed the evening with our tradition of watching National Lampoon Christmas Vacation with everyone. I have probably seen it 20 times and I still laugh out loud!
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| Cooking with butter is fun! |
Friday: HOLY shit. So my Mom started working out with a trainer once a week at her gym named Adriana. She was kind enough to let my Mom bring me along for Friday morning's weekly workout. First off, Adriana is awesome, and I would love to work out with her again. Two days later and I am still sore!!! Here is what we did after a 20 minute warm up run on the treadmill.
- Walking lunges across the gym holding 2 kettlebells
- 10 Burpees
- Walking lunges back
- 20 Walk Down Planks
- 20 Flutter Kicks
- 20 Kettlebell Swings
- Side shuffle across the gym and back
- 20 Reverse Pushups
- 20 squats with Kettlebell
Repeat that sequence 3 times.
Yeah. I'm sore. hahaha. But it was great and gave me some new ideas for strength training. And I was so proud of my Mom! I have never seen her do a workout like that before and she completed the whole thing. Pretty awesome.
Saturday: Ugly Sweater Run!!!!!! A few weeks ago I signed up for the Ugly Sweater 5K in Boston and today was the day. My cousin Amie and I went shopping for our sweaters a few weeks ago and let me tell you... we found some ugly ones haha. This was a really fun, laid back run. No timing chips, and the water stops were hot chocolate stops! We got to run through some really fun Christmas decorations and just looking at everyone else's outfits was fun. I got to meet Amie's BF Dan and their friend Heather, and they were both super nice. We finished the race, enjoyed our free beer and then Dan suggested we head over to R.F.O Sullivan and Sons for their famous burgers. OMG. Probably one of the best burgers I've ever had. It was a great call.
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| Best Ugly Sweater Team Ever!! |
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| Helllooooo delicious reward. |
Today is Sunday... I'm supposed to be running in another 5K in Boston (Yulefest) but it's shitty out and my legs are dead so I picked up my t shirt and I'm skipping out on this one. I'm bummed but I need to make sure my body stays healthy with all the stress I'll be putting it through over the next few months. I think today will be all about relaxing and pulling out the Christmas decorations.
Sorry this one was so long, I'll do better this week! Thanks for reading :)
141 days....
xoxo
Ash
"We choose to run for those who sometimes can't."
I am running the 2014 Boston Marathon on the Marathon Strides Against MS Team! To make a donation to help end Multiple Sclerosis please visit my personal fundraising page: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=12612971&pg=personal&fr_id=22897
