Month: October 2017

Accountability & Weekly Workouts

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 5 Comments

A week or so ago I joined a group online that was going to keep me accountable to strength training. You know, you state what you plan to do for the week, do it and share it on the Facebook group page.

Well, all is dandy and I was trekking along and when it came time for my specific strength training session – Iron Strength – I totally bailed out. On top of that, I haven’t check in with the group since then because I totally bailed on that workout. Bad group member here!!!

All is well though as I got back on track the next few days after that missed workout. Some days you just can’t do it all. I have those days once a week or every two weeks. You become burnt out, exhausted from dealing with your day that working out at night just is too much. I know, I know, I can workout first thing in the morning or at lunch time but that doesn’t always work out for me either. It’s a challenging balance.

Last week’s workouts:

  • Monday: Ran 5k with Carmacks.
  • Tuesday: Missed my Iron Strength workout – whoops!
  • Wednesday: Soccer Game + 3k running.
  • Thursday: Planned to do Yoga but we got home really late.
  • Friday: Walked Carmacks for 3k.
  • Saturday: Ran 8k with Krystol.
  • Sunday: 6k Leisurely Cycling & 2 walks with Carmacks (2k)

Monday night I ran with Carmacks while both girls were at Girl Guides. Carmacks is our retired sled dog and boy can he run! Tuesday I was just exhausted from my day and bailed on my workout last minute and went to be early.

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Wednesday was super warm here and I had a soccer game at 8pm; we won 4-2. When I got home I went for a little 3k run since I was already sweaty, I figured why not. My legs were heavy from all that sprinting but it was a good run.

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Thursday and Friday didn’t allow for much of anything as I was on the road both days. As Friday night approached, I wrote my running buddy Krystol and we decided to go for a run Saturday morning together. She hadn’t run in three weeks and I really needed some motivation to get out the door.

We planned to run between 7 and 10k and managed 8k together before calling it a day. We also may have agreed to start training for the hypo half in January. Guess we should get on a training plan.

Sunday was spent walking the dog twice, cleaning the house (vacuum/mopping), book store purchase, mowing the lawn and a fun bike ride. My girls and I walked Carmacks at 8:30am with jackets, hats and mittens while at 3pm we were in shorts and a t-shirt riding our bikes for just under an hour. Crazy weather we are having in Nova Scotia! Picture_20171030_143621066[1]

Though I skipped a workout or two, it was still an active week so I can’t complain! Now just to be more engaged in the accountability group to keep me going.

Have you ever trained for a race you aren’t going to register for until last minute? Due to weather conditions like snow/ice?

How was your week/weekend?

Anyone committed to an accountability group or monthly challenge in November?

https://hohoruns.blogspot.ca/

I’m joining the Weekly Wrap hosted by HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin

 

October Runfessions

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 20 Comments

Hello last Sunday of October! I was planning on having this post ready to go on Friday since that’s when Runfessions happens with Marcia, however life got in the way.

October was a decent month but I have a few runfessions to share with you. It’s been a rather warm month in Nova Scotia with temperature highs of 22C (71F) which is abnormally high. I’ll take it!

Runfessions

Runfession #1: I runfess that I took advantage of our late summer weather and ran in shorts and a tank top a few times. I even ran 3k after my indoor soccer game because, well, why not? I was already sweaty and warmed up.

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Runfession #2: I runfess that I had great plans to run the half route of MRW since I missed my race back in September but it’s just not going to happen. I’m not in half marathon shape and it’s going to take another month or so to get back there. I just can’t pull it off right now and I think I’m finally okay with that. Which leads me to my next runfession.

Runfession #3: When I didn’t run my race in September, I still got all the swag items: tank, mug, bib strap holder, hat and socks (lots of swag at MRW). That swag is still in it’s bag under my dresser as I just don’t feel like I should wear it since I didn’t run it.

Runfession #4: I runfess that I really want to run the Hypothermic half marathon on January 14th in Halifax. This is a race I wanted to do for a long time. I volunteered a few years back at a water station which was a lot of fun. However, it was a horrible year for snow and ice and the route was entirely ice. I saw so many people almost wipe out and fall as well….something I’m not interested in. So this will be a wait and register last minute depending on the conditions. It’s an expensive $80 or so for a last minute registration fee but if I trained for it, I would have something to focus on over the coming months. Anyone else in NS planning to run Hypo half?

Runfession #5: I runfess that I finally learned how to add my stats to a picture on Garmin to share! Seriously, I just learned this.

How To Add Garmin Stats Yo Your Photos

  1. Open Garmin Connect on your phone.
  2. Open up your recent run that displays the time, distance and calories in little bubbles.
  3. Click the share button.
  4. Options are to a). photo with stats or b). web link. Choose photo with stats.
  5. Pick photo you want to use, crop photo and then share on social media. Done!

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I still can’t believe it was that easy to add the stats to my photos. Obviously, I’m not that tech savy 😉 That’s all the runfessions I have for you! Nothing major but a few runfessions none the less.

What do you want to runfess from October?

Do you throw out Halloween candy at all?

Ever wear swag for a race you didn’t run?

You can check out my other Runfession posts: September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February, and January. I’m linking up with Marcia for today’s Runfessions post. It’s hosted on the last Friday of each month (not Sunday…like me this time around).

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Weekly Workouts; Run, Soccer, Cycle.

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 21 Comments

Happy Monday!

I’m feeling like November is just too close for comfort! With basically a full week away, it’s going to be here before we know it. Which means, wrapping up October with some runfessions later this week and Halloween fun for all this week I’m sure!

Weekly Workouts:

  • Sunday: Iron Strength Workout / Bike Ride / Walking Carmacks *ankle roll*
  • Monday: Restorative Yoga
  • Tuesday: Rest Day (was on the road for work all day)
  • Wednesday: Short 3k run with Carmacks before the kids were up.
  • Thursday: Soccer Game (we lost 3-1 but it was a great game).
  • Friday: Rest Day.
  • Saturday: Rest Day / Girls had their first basketball session and then I had to work. But it was fun work hosting a gender equity workshop for women interested in becoming board members (in sport & recreation). Though it was a super long day with my girls + working (they came too), it was a good day.

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  • Sunday: AM: Cleaning/washing and more cleaning. PM: Leisurely bike ride. I had the best bike ride with my girls. It was about 45 minutes in length but we stopped to say hi to a friend, then to play at a playground and in the woods, then back on the bike for some more fun before heading home.

Also, this is what biking with your kids looks like, granted this was an empty parking lot:

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Running:

I feel like running has totally taken a back seat lately. I have very little interest in running before work but will do a short run with our dog. I enjoy going for a runch but really have to plan those ones out. I’m exhausted once I finally get the girls to bed at night and just not feeling like doing anything but dishes, making lunches, folding laundry – just kidding. I have a treadmill so it’s not like I have an excuse when my husband is working.

I’m sure running will creep back into my life more but it is what it is! I want to run a “Jingle Bell Run” early December and maybe even thinking about a winter half. A winter half in Nova Scotia can mean running on ice, snow or clear roads, it’s really hit or miss.

Though I might not be running, I am really loving getting out on my bike with my girls. Usually, they just bike up and down on our quiet road but last weekend I decided to bike with them. Yesterday we decided to bike to a friends house and the adventure just continued from there. No, I wasn’t going at my normal pace but it was so much more enjoyable to go at a slower pace WITH my kids.

My ankle is healing but not 100%. I wore a brace at my soccer game (and running) last week which helped. I was actually planning on weaning myself off the brace from last year’s ankle injury (inside of ankle not outside like now). Anyway, looks like I’ll be wearing it for a few more games until my recent ankle roll is 100%.

Have you ever run a winter half marathon?

Are you even thinking about Christmas themed races yet? (too soon). 

How was your week?

I’m joining back into the Weekly Wrap hosted by HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin.

https://hohoruns.blogspot.ca/

Little Ankle Rollin’

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 28 Comments

Hello Wednesday!

I feels like this has been the longest week and it’s only Wednesday! I started off the week on a bad note. I some how managed to roll my right ankle while walking my dog – no joke! We had spent the day pretty active – a leisurely bike ride with the girls, an afternoon walk with Carmacks and yeah, even the boring stuff of doing laundry and dishes.

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Hilary and I went for an awesome walk with Carmacks on the Harvest Moon Trail (old rail bed to trail). Hilary ran more then walked and would run back to me when she got too far down the trail. At one point I told her to run to the closest gate and wait for me (I could see her and she could hear me). There was a runner coming in the other direction. As she ran towards the man, she raised her hand to wave hello and kept running. He waved back and responded with a surprised hello!

As he approached me, he said “you have a good runner on your hands”….we sure do, I replied! I was a proud mama runner.

As we approached our car to drive back home, I rolled my ankle on nothing. I could still walk but it wasn’t great. Ice became my friend and I missed yet another planned run that evening. I decided to brace my ankle and do an Iron Strength workout which kicked my butt. My body hurt until Tuesday night…sitting down hurt, walking up stairs hurt and maybe even laughing hurt too.

My ankle felt better this morning so I took Carmacks out for a quick 3k run to start off the day. No pain in the ankle so it’s healing well. Man, is it ever hard to get up at 6am, bundle up and get out the door for a run. I seriously had to talk myself into that run. I kinda want to go back to summer mornings and yes the heat too, just so I feel more motivated to run.

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This weeks workouts so far:

  • Sunday: Cycle, walk and Iron Strength
  • Monday: Restorative Yoga.
  • Tuesday: Rest Day (aka – travel to the city for a full day of sitting, oh I mean meetings).
  • Wednesday: 3k run with Carmacks to start the day.

Tomorrow, it’s back to playing soccer as the indoor season has starts. I’m looking forward to playing again.

Also Wednesday started off with some sad news as Gord Downie passed away (Not to mention John Dunsworth and Tom Petty last week). My oh my, what a man, what a musician, what an advocate! His songs hit your in your heart. His poetry brought you home and his advocacy leaves you with wanting to do more in life – to be a better person. If you don’t know who he is, please take a minute to look him up and listen to his music as the Tragically Hip are one of the most amazing Canadian bands.

Some favourites songs: Bobcaygeon, Wheat Kings, Ahead by a Century, Courage, Long Time Running, Fiddler’s Green…just to name a few, RIP Gord.

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How’s your week going?

Ever roll/tweak your ankle walking?

Anyone else struggling with their morning runs?