A Year in Pictures

As we start the last day of 2016....here's a look back at this year in pictures!!

What did your 2016 look like?

Looking to 2017

Why yes I am waiting until one of the last days of 2016 to think about goals for the coming year.  This year's end finds me in a position that I am not familiar with and it is honestly making me uncomfortable.  I don't feel like I can make race goals...mileage goals...or anything like that considering that for the next 5 months of the year I will be pregnant.  This is the first time I have been pregnant going into a new year.  Coupled with the fact that this past year I have struggled physically to get back to where I felt comfortable after breaking my toe, I am at a weird place.  Running this pregnancy is feeling off and I fear that my time logging running miles are coming to a close.  However, new years bring new chances...like a freshly sharpened pack of #2 pencils...and my mind craves goals.  Because of that I am laying down some goals...that are really focused more on me as a person as opposed to my usual goals as a runner.

Have a healthy pregnancy and baby boy! 
The holiday season has me having more treats than I should...especially when everyone around me is saying...oh you can get away with it this year!  This year I want to focus on staying healthy throughout this pregnancy and beyond so that not only do my girls have a healthy mom but so does their new baby brother!  And seeing as how there is still 7 months left to the year once the prince comes...see you later baby weight!  I mean really did you not think I would put this in here!?!

Have more fun/relax!
I find this ironic that I type this as I feel ready to pop due to the mess that just seems to be a daily reality post-Christmas, but this year I want to try to loosen the Type A part of my brain and have more fun just being silly and relaxing.  More times like this...

and less times stressing over laundry and schedules...less yelling and more breathing!

Invest more in the healthy relationships in my life!
2016 brought to light some toxic relationships in my life.  It was hard to let them go because I felt like I was quitting but once I did it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders!  Letting go of that brought more time and energy for me to invest in the healthy relationships...in my family...in those who love me and are truly there for me.  Letting go of it brought more light in my life and in my family's life!  This coming year I want to continue to invest in those relationships!

Declutter!!!!!
Making room for one more means we need to finally tackle those boxes that we have moved from house to house!  I'm making a goal for myself to go through 1-2 boxes a week from now until we have gotten through them all!  This is going to mean lots of trips to the dump...lots of garbage bags...purging girl clothes (we have at least 3 bins per age range)...and letting go of stuff I have been hanging onto for far too long!!!  I'm looking forward to having more room and less clutter!

Project 365!
Because I am always craving a project...and my Cannon is collecting far too much dust...I am going to do project 365.  I am going to post a picture a day for the whole year.  I fully understand that some days may be as exciting as my cluttered desk, but others will be as exciting as a new member of our family.  In a year that we complete our family and navigate our first summer as 5 (this boy is getting his sea legs immediately), I am excited to document it!

What are you planning for 2017?  Any amazing races on the horizon?  Please tell me so that I can vicariously train through you!!! 

Monday Motivation

Wow a whole week and no posting!!!  Sorry about that!  This is a new week and new day to get started on the right foot!  I have been battling this week with what I think is round ligament pain which is making for a frustrating time physically.  I'm not good at slowing down but this week I have had to choose walking miles over running since even standing up straight at times has been a challenge.  However today is a new day and I'm sticking with my plan to just keep moving!  I will use the fresh start of each day to keep putting one foot in front of the other!!

What will you do with your new day??

Just Keep Moving

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's can be a whirlwind of activity that can leave you wondering where the last piece of the year went....and why your clothes are a little snug!  This year obviously my clothes are a little tighter...but not because I haven't been moving!  Each year my goal is to continue to keep moving for my own sanity....the safety of those around me...and just to overall feel better. 

One of my favorite ways to keep myself moving this time of year is to join in as many challenges as I can!  Finding some great challenges with supportive people can really help you know that you are not alone and that it is possible to stay fit through this time.  I have already written about the Runner's World RunStreak that I started on Thanksgiving day but I have also joined up with Fit Mom Strong Mom for their 12 days of "Fit-mas" challenge!!!

I have loved being an ambassador for them and I am really excited for this challenge to start!  First of all the price is right because it is FREE!!  Perfect this time of year when it feels like money is flying out of our wallets!  Also the workouts are quick and emailed right to you so there really is no excuse not to carve out the time and get it done!  There is also a Facebook page to give you the added support and encouragement from others in the challenge!! 

So here's my question to you.....Who's coming with me? 
You do NOT need to be a mom to join...you just have to love a good challenge and want to stay moving this year!  Sign on up and be sure to let them know Fancy Nancy sent you!! 

Monday Motivation

This past week was busy...like not our run-of-the-mill busy we normally have around here...I'm talking something extra going on every day either with work or the kids.  I try so hard not to wear "busy" like a badge of honor but DAMN I'm happy we made it through last week!  As we were going through the week, I became increasingly aware of the feeling like there was a giant elephant sitting squarely on my chest/neck...worry/anxiety over how am I going to balance it all....how the heck am I going to balance 3?  It bleed out into every interaction I had...I was short with people...I was cranky...I slacked where I should have put in more effort.  It made me realize that I need to make sure when I am feeling like that I need to let it go...there is nothing I can predict about 6 months from now and busy weeks come, but I am NOT alone and I need to just breathe!  This week if I feel my elephant friend trying to get cozy, I'm telling him to get lost!  There is no time to be anxious about anything!!!

How do you keep yourself from getting overwhelmed?

Let's Talk Training....Prego Style

Big news around these parts especially if you are following me on social media....and if you're not then get right on that!!  Our big announcement is that we are adding to our "fancy" family in May with the addition of a baby boy!!!

My husband loves his girls dearly but I'm sure he is excited to be getting some more testosterone back into the house!

I wanted to touch base here about how my training has been these last few months (I'm 14 weeks) and how it has compared to training with my last two pregnancies.

I will say that the first trimester of this pregnancy was a lot harder than my last two pregnancies.  I'm not sure if I should chalk this up to age or that I have two others to chase around, but this time around I felt very different.  I basically have felt like I have a horrible hangover for the past three months...just no fun party/funny memories to go with it!  This impacted my training a lot, obviously, and I honestly have felt very discouraged.  With my first pregnancy, I ran but I was just coming off of being burnt out from training for Boston and not really doing a great job balancing running and life.  This meant that I lifted and did spin every day up until about 39 weeks (the gym was across the street from the hospital so I figured I had a short trip if anything happened!).  When I got pregnant with our second child, I was probably in the best shape of my adult life.  I was running TONS and hitting PRs left and right! 

I actually ran a 20 miler a week after I found out I was pregnant.  With that pregnancy I ran (and kept my speed and distance up) until about 38 weeks (I also ran a half marathon at 21 weeks).

Enter this pregnancy...I was continuing training as normal (two days of speed work, an easy run, and a long run) until one day I hit a wall.  I battled with headaches, nausea, and a body that was just plain tired.  I cried about not being able to run long(seriously it was rough) and then went about figuring out what I COULD do.  My speed has dwindled quickly but I am still putting in the miles (hello RW RunStreak!) but they are much slower.  I still do two days of speed but they are not nearly as fast as they were before....and there are walk breaks.  However now that I am into my second trimester, I have been feeling human again (THANK YOU LORD!) and have had a few really awesome runs....like the ones that make me feel like me again!!

I have also incorporated spin back into the mix.  I have been loving mixing together spin and lifting alternating intervals.  It is a great workout! 

I have also been making sure I am working in exercising with the girls.  We have been loving hiking and exploring trails!

I've been really making sure that I get weight training in every day...core work, leg day, upper day and pilates.  In the past with pregnancy, I have struggled afterward with back/core issues.  I am hoping that being consistent with my weight training that this will help! 

I really think the difference this time around has been that I am feeling like I need to be kinder to my body.  Call it age...call it exhaustion...whatever it is I need to remind myself to be kind to myself.  I feel so much better physically and mentally when I get in my workout every morning but if the body is just not feeling it then I wait until later.  This is the last time I will be going through this process...I need to treasure the time!  This is the plan....keep my body moving for 40 weeks!  Here we go!

Monday Motivation

Over the years my "why" has changed.  It began as a competitive outlet for me when college sports was over.  Then it turned into proving to myself that I could run a marathon.  Then it was speed and discovering who I was.  After becoming a mom, it changes almost daily.  Some days it's a stress release, others it is to remind myself what it feels like to be just me!  These days as we are expecting baby #3, it's about staying healthy for me and for the baby.  Yesterday however, it was to feel it again...to feel the cool air in my lungs and remind myself what it felt like to just have me and the road.  Whatever your "why" is...find it and let it motivate you each day!!

What's your why?

Pardon Me While I'm Streaking!

This year I have decided to finish up the year by challenging myself to the Runner's World run streak from Thanksgiving to New Years.  I feel like lately that I have been in a funk of sorts....some for good reasons...and I need a goal to keep me motivated through to 2017.  Now this will not only take dedication to get my runs in early before the day gets crazy, but it will take, I fear a lot of dedication to my treadmill!  I don't want this streak to impact the fun that my family and I look forward to each holiday season, so like I said...bring on the early morning runs!!  Now I know many that have fabulous run streaks going...and the fabulous Dani at Weight off My Shoulders is rocking the AMAZING run streak of 755 days (friggin unbelievable!)...but this is not what I am going for.  Just a streak from Thanksgiving to New Years...a way to streak my way to 2017!  I'm 2 days in so now here's my question....who's coming with me?!?!?!

And while you are streaking away and need some protection from the sun, check out Block Island Organics fabulous assortment of sunscreen and facial products as well as my favorite night cream!!  Head on over to their site and score yourself 25% off with the code BFCM16 at checkout!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you celebrating today!!  I'm as always thankful for your support of this crazy journey!!  Enjoy those you love!

Get Your Fashion Fix

As a working mom of two (one totally OWNING the nickname the "tiny tornado"), my days of leisurely strolling stores looking for just the right pieces to add to my wardrobe are very few and far between!  Enter Stitch Fix! 

It seriously couldn't be easier and more convenient!  Your first step is to take the style profile quiz...basically what are you looking for in clothes and what are clothes that you like, along with how do you like your clothes to fix and what areas do you like to show-off vs hide.  I also linked my profile to my Pinterest style page so I can really give the stylist a lot of visuals about things that I like and am drawn to.  You also can set a budget for what you are looking to pay for the items.  Your final step is to schedule your fix and for just $20 (which let's be honest is worth EVERY PENNY if it means I don't have to step foot in the mall and wrestle with my children while we are in said mall) you will have a fabulous box headed your way put together by your own personal stylist!!  You can then purchase any of the items in your box...or all...and your $20 goes toward your purchase!  SCORE!  You then can send back the things you do not want in a prepaid envelope.

I did my first fix last month and I loved the items!!  I was looking for things for work really and a few items that could work for both. Here a peak into my fix!

The part that I really loved what the style guide that was sent along with the clothes that showed how I could incorporate pieces I already had in my wardrobe to go along with the items that were there....I need picture instructions sometimes!!

The pieces really didn't work for me and what I was looking for but I really loved how I was able to see a lot of the choices I could have!  I gave my stylist a lot of feedback and am excited to see my new fix coming in!!   

Looking to add some new pieces to your wardrobe but can't find the time to shop on your own?  Try out Stitch Fix!!!  The clothes come to you!! Have someone on your list that loves fashion...or is like me and can't get themselves to the store?  Why not a gift card??

Have you ever tried Stitch Fix?

Monday Motivation

Oh some days that excuses are just so valid...so quick...so comforting!  Maybe it's the howling wind outside I can hear from my cozy bed, or the hours of sleep I can count on one hand.  Whatever it may be I know that if I give in to those excuses, I will feel it for the rest of the day.  I have found lately a HUGE impact (even more than before) of missing a workout in the way that I feel...a missed workout makes it 10X harder for me to be alert...to not feel sluggish...and to be honest it impacts my ability to be kind to others!!  This week, my plan is to WIN!!!  I am going to win that race with my excuses...even if they do involve a holiday!!

How do you win over your excuses?

Monday Motivation

I'm taking a step to the side today for my motivation...away from the "push your limits" usual quote.  Last week, as I am certain it was for many people, was a hard week for me emotionally.  It wasn't as much the election results as it was what followed the very next day.  The words I saw on social media that people were saying not only about their fellow Americans but their friends, were discouraging.  Even my usual "run it out" tactic didn't work!  It may be because I am at heart an eternal optimist...or perhaps I am a mom of small girls as well as an elementary school teacher.  Half of what I do all day is teaching little people to love each other...use kind words...accept everyone even if they think differently of you...and that all people deserve to be treated kindly.  This week is a new one...one where I encourage you...motivate you to choose love.  Hate is such a heavy burden to bear!

Monday Motivation

Each and every day all we can do is go out there and give our best.  Sometimes that looks like a pr...or a killer workout...or an awesome ride.  Other times it may not look all that different than the day before.  I know that it is so easy to get frustrated with small dollops of progress....I feel it all the time!  The important part is continuing to show up each day....the dollops of progress will one day be a huge improvement!  Do quit...keep showing up!!