Let's Talk Training Week 8

What a fickle month this February has been!!  Needless to say this week doesn't have too much to talk about other than one run and a day with the plague!  I started the month rocking the Under Armour/FitFluential burpee challenge finishing 1000 burpees in just 15 days!

Then the whole back issue started and sidelined me for 2 full weeks.  I managed to squeak out 73.4 miles for the month so I am happy with that.  In the 2 weeks I've been stretching and resting....and well....dreaming of running and racing!  I think it is finally paying off though.  After all this rest....and one great run...

and a full day of some stomach bug straight from Hades...I woke up this morning for the first time being able to stand up straight without wincing!  I'm still going to ease through this week and see where I am come Saturday...I am visiting my favorite runner ever so we may  need to do a few miles around her island!!!

Let's Talk Training Week 5

Week 5 and I'm starting to feel that "hurts so good" feeling each Saturday evening!  This week I had the added bonus of a cranky back which had me walking around the grocery store like a little old lady!  Here is how it all broke down!  New Bedford Half here I come!
Monday: 3-5 miles- Ran 3.1 basement miles and 50 burpees
Tuesday: Kettlebells-Aubs woke up about 20 min before I needed to be up and out the door so it was just a burpee day for me
Wednesday: 6 mile tempo-Snow day/sleet day so I headed to the gym early and got in 8.2 miles on the mill...people watching is so much more fun than my basement! 50 burpees
Thursday: 7 miles-I swung the kettlebells by myself and ended up tweaking my back trying to NOT hit someone who were way too close!  Long story short I got in 4.4 miles before I remembered that I needed to walk the next day and pushing it with my angry back would not be pretty! 100 burpees
Friday: Xtrain-Back was stiff waking up so I tried some stretching after my 50 burpees.
Saturday: 10 miles-I was up in Boston again staying with Jill for work so it was a no brainer...up at 4:30 and out the door at 5am!  Let me just tell you this was an adventure (one my back is still not my friend about)!  Since they got far more snow than us we had to climb down snow drifts to get to the beach...then back up them to get to the trail...then skate our way along an icy and snowy trail...back down to the beach...and back to her house!  I seriously would have NEVER done it with anyone else!  Somehow when we run together everything sounds like a great idea!  With frozen faces and numb legs we even made up a song about how much we love running!  The sunrise was gorgeous and it felt awesome to be out there....frozen and all! Bonus 50 burpees

I love this one for some reason...glowing from the run!

Sunday: Rest-Woke up with 50 burpees and then "rested" aka cleaned the house and chased my chickies around!  I'm excited that I am cruising along though with the #ffburpee challenge with 750/1000!!!

**I'm going to be adding weight training and stretching advice from my trainer (aka the lady who got me obsessed about kettlebells) here each week...call it a "What Would Mary Do" section.  My question to all of you is...What types of things would you like her to talk about?  Kettlebells...pilates...stretches...foam rolling...weights...ask away!**

Let's Talk Training Week 4

Week 4 and I'm finally feeling what I've been chasing...walking funny from sore legs and a good fatigue!  Overall it was a great week and I'm excited to see going forward where I can take it!  I'm working in my burpees each day (50 per day) and inspiring a gym to join in!  So here's the skinny on last week!
Monday: 3-5 miles with 3 min pick-ups...Ran 3.5 on the mill with pick-ups
Tuesday:  x-train...morning kettlebells with 4.3 miles on the bike to warm up
Wednesday:  1 mile warm-up 2X2 mile 1 mile CD...woke up fighting something...put myself to bed early with no run
Thursday:  x-train...morning make-up of yesterday's run and night KBs!

We put up our burpee totals on the board in my gym...well it has really caught on and now there are people adding their names!  Amazing what a visual can do to inspire those around you!  We are up to 350 now!
Friday:  3 miles...6 miles before work.  We had an inservice day which meant a later start for me.  I drove to school and ran around the town...loved it!!!

Saturday:  12 miles...Friday night we had a scare with my mom's health and I spent the night in the hospital with her.  Needless to say I woke up Saturday grateful beyond belief that she was ok but pretty much like a wet noodle (I'll post more on this later)
Sunday:  rest...12 miles in the foggy but oh so mild morning!  

It was so incredibly awesome to get out there and go long!!  Half way through I started seeing mile markers on water bottles.  It was then that I wanted to kick myself since I had completely forgotten about a local 10 miler!!  Next year!

TTT...Get moving!

It's Thursday!!!  Yahoooo!  Almost to the end of the week!  These past few weeks I have been doing State standardized testing on my students so the days are full of filling in bubbles and reading directions...sounds like a blast doesn't it!?  Probably because of this my mind is on moving...since I have to stand and watch my students take tests all day!  Enjoy!!

Stop Stroke Shuffle 5K...Fellow ZOOMA Ambassador and just amazing runner (she just completed the Dopey Challenge....amazing) Dani is hosting a virtual 5K in February.  She ran the Boston Marathon last year with Tedy's Team raising money for the American Stroke Association and she is back at it again this year!!  $25 gets you an adorable finisher medal and gets Dani one step closer to her $5000 goal!  I know I'm going to be lacing up my Sauconys and grabbing myself one of these babies!

Click on the medal to head on over!!

Burpee Challenge...I saw this challenge and right away thought of my Thursday night KB buddies...you know since we love a good challenge that threatens to make us throw up!

courtesy of She Rocks Fitness

In all seriousness a burpee is a great exercise to get the heart pumping!  Since winning the latest Under Armour gear gets my heart doing the same I'm in!  Are you?

#CoreCommit...If you follow me on Instagram...and if not then what is the issue...you have seen the last few days pictures of me doing core exercises. 

I joined Ericka from The Sweet Life with Ericka and her Core Power Challenge. 

After having two C-Sections it is safe to say that my core muscles need some attention.  Not only were they stretched to the max twice but then they were cut...three times (surgery prior to children).  Now while my scars are probably going to keep me from becoming the next Giselle (among other things...like height), I know that core muscles are going to help me with just looks.  After long runs I can feel my lower back getting sore.  I'm liking the challenge and getting into the habit of doing core work each day!  Are you part of the challenge?

******DON'T FORGET!!!!!*******

 My Fit February Challenge with Dietbet is starting on February 1st...yes Saturday!!  Don't miss out!  Sign up now!!!