November Runfessions

It’s that time of the month – Runfession time. I almost feel like I don’t have anything worthy of runfessing. Having said that, I’m just going to keep typing.

I runfess that I haven’t run in a week and not allowed to run for another week. I sprained something (ligament/joint) in my lower back last Saturday morning. I was getting up off the ground from helping my girls get their boots on and instantly had massive pain across my lower back. It was like reliving child birth all over again – no joke. I couldn’t stand up or walk without pain which took my breath away. It took four days (until Wednesday) to stand up straight, even my kids could see I was standing with my upper body slanted! The pain was horrible, especially when going from sitting to standing. My chiropractor said no movement other then walking – yeah me!

I runfess that I’ve been sitting a lot lately in meetings at work, like day long meetings and they are killing me. Not the content or the people but the sitting. I often stand up in meetings (many of us do). The good news is that during these full day meetings, we try to get out for a little walk or hike. I got rather muddy on Wednesday!

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Also, my Blundstones above are completed shot! They look fantastic, minus the mud but the soles are ripped apart! I’m so sad that I have to get a new pair but these puppies have been on my feet for 9 years!  I runfess that I’ll be sad to say goodbye to them. I know it’s not recommended but has anyone ever had their Blundstones resoled ?

Lunch time hike

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I runfess that I’m not ready for my daughter’s birthday parting coming in a week. I’m trying to find time to get ready for it (buy stuff, make up games, figure out food etc.) but it seems like I have very few minutes in a day to get this shit done. Help!

I runfess that i’m not celebrating Thanksgiving right now for good reason, Canadians celebrate it in October. However, I am completely jealous of the food you are eating and family/friend time you are all getting. I will also share that my parents DID celebrate American Thanksgiving yesterday! They invited some of their American friends over since they couldn’t be back home with their own families and had a dinner last night. I’m also jealous of that get together last night, wish I could have joined them.

I runfess that I feel like I’m eating like crap lately and can’t get motivated to come up with new meal ideas. I was doing really good at the beginning of November – meal planning, prepping for meals and even making meals ahead of time. I’ve seemed to fallen off the radar with good meals lately. Open to easy and quick meal suggestions!

Those are my runfessions for November. Okay, one more. I runfess that I hope I can get my shit together and avoid any and all injuries in 2018. It’s been one injury or redirection after another this year and I’m done with that.

On that note, Happy Friday folks!

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You can check out my other Runfession posts: October September, AugustJuly, JuneMay, AprilMarchFebruary, and JanuaryI’m linking up with Marcia for today’s Runfessions post. It’s hosted on the last Friday of each month.

I don’t blog every day so if you want to keep in the loop, check me out on Instagram.

What’s your favourite Thanksgiving food to eat?

Anyone else struggling with meals lately? 

Are you done with 2017 or ready to enjoy one last month before 2018?

 

Friday Happenings

Happy Friday! Or as my oldest just learned – FRI-YAY! I may have taught her that when I bought a shirt for her that said “FRI-YAY”. She think’s it’s hilarious!

I didn’t get a chance to write a weekly wrap up last week but I swear I was active – running, yoga and a soccer game. I took a few days off running which was completely unintentional. We also celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in the city without kids!!!! Whoop whoop! He’s so much taller then me he had to squat down to take this photo, ha!

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Running:

I’ve yet to really plan out a proper half marathon training plan for the Hypo Half I want to run in January (14th). Maybe because I’m only half committee (no pun intended). I did get in a longer run at the beginning of this week but my Garmin died just before 6k. I struggled from 6-8k and then finished off with 10k done. Wednesday night I missed a run due to pure exhaustion but I managed to get a 5k treamill run in last night. That felt great. Struggle bus below.

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The weather has turned back to normal fall like temps which means bundling up for your runs. I bought a new beanie at the Running Room last weekend and wore it during my long run – love it!

Holidays!

With it being mid-November, Christmas is sure on my mind. What to buy people? Where to shop? When to find time to shop? We’ve picked up a few things for our girls but don’t have a concrete plan for Christmas. Also, since Canadian Thanksgiving has already passed – that’s not on our plate next week. However, we do have two birthdays back to back early December so we’ll be seeing lots of glitter and hanging with a bunch of 5 year olds!

I bought a new dress for our anniversary but I’m pretty sure I’m going to wear it all the time. Maybe even to work!

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Eats!

I’ve been making a lot of soups lately: All Things Red Soup, Leek & Potato (yum!) and my ultimate favourite – Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup.  Our freezer is full and I just bought more leeks and potatoes for this weekend.

What are some of your favourite eats this time of year? 

Are you all ready for Christmas or not even there yet?

What running item can’t you live without right now?

I don’t blog every day so if you want to keep in the loop, check me out on Instagram.

 

 

 

October Mileage & November Goals

Another month bites the dust! Can you believe that it’s November already? I seriously can’t believe how fast this year has gone by!

October wasn’t a high mileage month but it was busy. We managed to get out for three Sunday bike rides which just seems so weird as we’re normally done with outdoor bike riding by then.

Running Mileage: 47 km; 2 Yoga classes, 3 Soccer Games, 13km Cycling and lots of walking!

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October Goals:

  • Pace Valley Harvest 10k – 1:10 finish time. Finished in 1:09:37.
  • Enjoy time with family; especially on Thanksgiving – Oct 8th – YUP!
  • Visit Pumpkin People and do a Corn Maze with our girls. Nope! But they both went with others!
  • Complete October’s “Journal the Run Project”. Completed! Loving capturing my running and other workouts this way. 
  • Continue to get my back/chest better (related to car accident from back in March). Working on it. I started to see a Chiropractor in September and this has made the world of a difference! So thankful for our healthy care practitioners.

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Not a bad month. I tried to keep it simple and planning to do the same in November. The best part of October (running wise) was pacing the Valley Harvest Marathon 10k. I had a blast and can’t wait to pace a race next year.

November Goals:

  • Run 2-3 times a week.
  • Design a half marathon training plan for Hypo Half (Jan 14th 2018).
  • Strength Training (Core workouts, IronStrength and old PT exercises).
  • Run outside as much as possible.
  • Dust off treadmill.
  • Start thinking about races for 2018.
  • Renew Blog (yeah, i’m going to give it a go for another year).

First treadmill run of the winter last night.

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Though it’s already Nov 9th and I’m just sharing these goals now, they have been on my mind for the last two weeks. I love running and hoping to keep that up in order to potentially run the Hypo Half in January. I desperately need to do more strength training and core work to keep my back and SI joint happy. I’m starting to get excited about races next year which is really early for me!

How was your month of October?

Have you thought about races in 2018 yet?

Any November Goals you want to share?

 

 

Treats, Run & Fire Weekly Wrap Up

November has been an extremely busy month and it’s only the 6th! We are still having some summer like temperatures but fall feels like it’s trying to roll in. The pretty leaves are all gone and the warm temps just don’t feel right.

Last week wasn’t the best week of workouts as I was on the road a lot with work. That will be the theme until mid December sadly. I need to be creative in getting in my runs and any other workouts.

Last week’s workouts:

  • Monday: Rest Day.
  • Tuesday: Halloween – lots of walking.
  • Wednesday: Melissa Bender Quick Core workout.
  • Thursday: 5k with Carmacks.
  • Friday: Rest Day.
  • Saturday: 3k run with Carmacks before 7am.
  • Sunday: Leisurely 6k bike ride + Soccer Game.

Halloween: Social Butterfly, Super women and Old Lady Lilly!

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Confession – I’m eating way too many Halloween treats. Anyone else? I am however enjoying my runs with Carmacks. He is doing awesome running with me or should I say I’m doing a good job of running with him. I ran’t run fast enough for him right now but some days he has me pushing my pace way more then I want to be and that’s okay. My husband had him out yesterday for another 5k so he’s starting to rack up the mileage. I want to try and do a longer run with him and see how he does but it’s still a little too warm for him to go longer then 5k – at least, that’s how I feel.

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(TMI coming up). I’ve gotta figure out how do my long runs with him and managed water for both of us as well as poop bags which aren’t fun to run with. There aren’t too many garbage bins around to drop the bags off and I’m not going to leave a bag of dog poop behind. I have lots to learn about running long distances with him as when I ran with our other dog Maclean, we kept it to 5k.

This week I also tried a Melissa Bender core workout I recently saw online. Not easy but so effective. I worked this past weekend but it was fun work. I graphically recorded an AGM for a female leadership group around sport, recreation and physical activity. You can check it out on Instagram. It was a long day driving and standing but I took advantage of my new Tiux socks to keep my legs happy. [Tiux promo code: ANNASTIUX for 20% off at Tiux]

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We got out for one last bike ride as a family. I keep saying “last ride” but each week we managed to get out again. However, this week required gloves and the girls faces were cold but they still loved it.

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We ended off the weekend with a bonfire dinner for the girls. It went over pretty good until Hilary had a meltdown over her spider hot dog – apparently she really hates hot dogs! At least the fire was fun! The time change took a little toll on Hilary as she was up before the birds and cranky by 5pm…fire burning time. Oh well, sometimes as parents we learn things last minute – you know….good Ah – ha! moments!

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I didn’t get to watch the NYC Marathon but WOW, just WOW. I’m loving all the hype of Shalene’s win. No, I’m not American but it’s awesome watching a women win and break a record for her country. I’m linking up today with the Weekly Wrap hosted by HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin. 

https://hohoruns.blogspot.ca/

How was your weekend?

Did you take in the NYC marathon? 

Did the time change affect your family?