A little of this and a little of that

14. July 2017 · 8 comments · Categories: cross training, injury · Tags: , , , ,

A little of this and a little of that

Hi there.

Happy Friday!

This photo popped up on my Facebook memories page. Baby Duncan! 8 years ago. He was only about 7 months old.baby-duncan

I’ve been home from Block Island now for over a week and trying to stay active without running as the toe slowly heals. I’ve been doing a little of this and a little of that. I made it to yoga 3 times in the last week and am loving it still. I’m working hard to hold that crow for a full 3 breaths. And I really think we all need to spend a few minutes every day inverted. (no pictures :( I tend to shut my phone before I enter the studio.)

I live in a development with a community pool that I hardly ever use. I bought my home 17 years ago this month (I really can’t believe it’s been that long) and for the first 14 years I think I literally went once and only dipped my feet in. Then, in 2014 when my friend Jane talked me into doing that triathalon, I went twice to see if I could swim.

swim skirts are the bomb.

swim skirts are the bomb.

Well, this past week I have already gone twice and am discovering that it doesn’t matter that I’m not really a swimmer, I can stay afloat doing a doggie paddle/breast stroke hybrid and got 10 laps covered my first swim and 16 laps covered yesterday.

I have a silly shorts tan :)

I have a silly shorts tan :)

I definitely love to set goals and while I don’t love being out of my comfort zone, it feels great to get my heart rate up. If only the pool were deeper I’d try pool running. But it’s only 4ft 3in deep.

Dear toe: take your time healing. It's ok.

Dear toe: take your time healing. It’s ok.

I’m now 3 sessions into physical therapy and optimistic that this will help me heal faster.physical-therapy

I took my bike out once this week and it wasn’t until 10 minutes in that I realized I never reconnected the front brake after coming back from Block Island (the way the bike went into the bike rack meant removal of front wheel and that required the disconnection of the brake). OOpsie! Good thing I really use the back brake more than the front.biking-brake

I also managed one “power walk” this week. My toe felt really good on Sunday so I walked briskly for 3 miles.

Rocking the "shorts creep"

Rocking the “shorts creep”

And I went on a hike with my hiking group this past Wednesday.

we heard lots of frogs in this bog

we heard lots of frogs in this bog

IMG_1463

Getting ready to hike

Getting ready to hike

I keep fantasizing kayaking. I miss it. I wish I lived on a lake.

So a little yoga, a little swimming, a little walking, a little biking and a little hiking have helped me to Sweat Out the Small Stuff through the week.

Oh and I drove out to Pennsylvania to visit my dear friend Stef. We’ve known each other for 30+ years now! She has a labradoodle too—Bella. It was a great day of catching up.IMG_1430

And Duncan got a haircut!

I never grow weary of his before and after side-by-side photos

I never grow weary of his before and after side-by-side photos

I’m gearing to be back to running in the fall but for now I’ll keep doing a little of this and a little of that :)

How was your week?

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more winter fun and delaying my long run

10. March 2017 · Write a comment · Categories: running · Tags: , , , , , ,

Hi there,

TGIF! Hope y’all had a good week. Tomorrow I had planned to run 10 miles in preparation for the Love Run half marathon coming up on March 25th. But after two not so amazing 4 mile runs this week thanks to my hamstring situation I decided to take a few days off and delay that 10 miler. I’m thinking of shooting for Tuesday. That’ll give me 3-4 days off to let things settle a bit. Of I couldn’t resist joining some of my hiking friends for some winter fun this morning in the snow.

Wait for meeeeee!

Wait for meeeeee!

We had a quick storm that left a few inches and Duncan and I enjoyed the couple of hours out on the trails in the winter wonderland.

Hmm, red trail or blue?

Hmm, red trail or blue?

There's nothing better than fresh fallen snow in the woods

There’s nothing better than fresh fallen snow in the woods

My little hiker

My little hiker

This is the gate that is at the entrance of the parking area at the trail head. It's like sculpture.

This is the gate that is at the entrance of the parking area at the trail head. It’s like sculpture.

Speaking of winter fun, last Sunday Mr SOTSS and I took his 2 girls and my niece skiing in Pennsylvania.

That's my niece behind me! Yes, I was able to snap photos and video while skiing. I just held both poles in the other hand. I'm so talented.

That’s my niece behind me after skiing down the “big mountain” for the first time! She did amazing. Yes, I was able to snap photos and video while skiing. I just held both poles in the other hand. I’m so talented.

This was only the 3rd time each of the girls has been on skis. Last year when we took them they had a lesson and this year we started on the bunny slope but after about an hour they all felt comfortable trying out the big mountain trails. I’m so excited that I was able to teach my niece AND Mr. SOTSS’ older daughter (she’s almost 14) how to turn.

Last run of the day. She was so excited that I taught her how to turn she wanted to practice. I'm so proud of her.

Last run of the day. She was so excited that I taught her how to turn she wanted to practice. I’m so proud of her.

Once it clicked for them they got so much more confident and fell a whole lot less :) It was a great day filled with lots of laughs.

A daddy/daughter chill session

A daddy/daughter chill session

Taking a quick nap before the struggle to get back up.

Taking a quick nap before the struggle to get back up.

My week was pretty typical. Duncan and I had our usual walks and trips to the pet store and as I said earlier, I got two 4 mile runs in. 5FE323DB-FA12-48D9-9041-ACE6E46FED3FThe first one on Tuesday was in the rain but it was about 50 degrees and felt really refreshing. IMG_8144The second one yesterday ended up being more of a trail run/walk. IMG_8177

happy trails

happy trails

IMG_8176I ran past the golf course and since it was 63 yesterday there were golfers in action. Hard to believe that today it snowed.

golfers

golfers

So now I’m going to do all the rehabbing for the next few days and see how it goes next week when I pick back up with training.

What is your idea of Winter fun? Indoors or Outdoors?

Any fun weekend plans?

What are your favorite glute, hamstring and hip strengthening exercises?

Don’t forget to turn the clocks ahead this weekend if you’re in Daylight Savings.

 

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A night hike for the 3rd Wednesday in a row

12. January 2017 · 3 comments · Categories: recreational fun, running · Tags: , , ,

Hi there.

So my toe was feeling better on Tuesday morning. I was so happy! Then, after our morning walk, Duncan ran up the stairs and was doing what I call “the zoomies” around the living room and next thing I know he was limping. Geez….really? He wouldn’t put any pressure on his right foot at all at first. But by later in the afternoon he was doing better and by yesterday he was back to normal. Whew! We avoided a trip to the vet.

We made up for lost time today with a stroll together….no coats/no limp for both of us!

:)

:)

Where'd all the snow go?

Where’d all the snow go?

It was 63 degrees and I actually had the sunroof open.

sunroof open!

My “sunroof is open” smile!

I was plowing through work for a client yesterday and at one point he sent me this message:

clientMade me feel so good. When you work for yourself you need some validation every now and again :)

Last night, since my toe seemed good I decided to go on that night hike again. They go out every Wednesday evening from about 6-8pm. This was my 3rd hike and I love how each time there’s something else that is unique. Last week I could see a sky full of stars and a whole lot of deer. My headlamp would reflect into the  This week there was still some patches of snow around and there was an almost full moon in the sky.15966270_10211670573141552_1967774039216652239_n It was cloudy but you could see the diffused light in the sky anyway.

a silhouette Sally selfie

a silhouette Sally selfie

It was unseasonably warm too. There were about 8 of us. 15977599_10211385058093086_7274360967031784655_nThere were times we were all chatty and other times all you could hear was the sound of our feet.

I registered for a local 4 mile trail run called the Resolution Run this weekend. This will be my first running miles and first race of 2017. And it’s the first of 3 trail runs in the series and each individual race medal interlocks to create one larger medal.

Between the hikes and the trail races I think I’m going to get much more acquainted with my local trails this year and this makes me happy!

So what do you have going on this weekend?

Do you like hiking/running on trails?

 

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Anniversaries and Weekend Fun

09. November 2015 · 4 comments · Categories: labradoodle, recreational fun, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Happy Monday!

Anniversaries:

November 6th marked 4 years to the day that I ran my first full marathon. I can’t ever forget the date mainly because it’s printed on the sleeve of the finisher’s jacket I bought at the expo =)

I still remember everything about that day. The good, the bad and the ugly =)

I still remember everything about that day. The good, the bad and the ugly =)

And November 7th marked 17 years to the day that I was married.

The words are part of the "Indian Prayer" that was given by the officiant.

The words are part of the “Indian Prayer” that was given by the officiant. Ironically his days on this earth were not long. But he’s always with me.

While we didn’t make it to anniversay #1 thanks to cancer taking him just 5 months after we got married I still treasure the date and have it etched in my heart forever. I am who I am today because of him and because of my experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world. 

_____________________________________________________________________

Weekend Fun:

So this weekend was my weekend with Mr. SOTSS. I had tons of work to do so I stayed home Friday night and all day Saturday to get it done and he enjoyed the time to clean out his gutters and work on his bathroom renovation. I did get Duncan to the park for a bit and then he went to the groomer. 

foliage

My glorious local favorite park

park-pic-doodle

just before going to the groomer. I love his shag and would keep it long if it were easier to maintain.

I headed over to Mr. SOTSS’ house for dinner Saturday night and then we went to see the movie Burnt with Bradley Cooper. Do yourself a favor and don’t waste your money or your time. It wasn’t good :( but the Reese’s Pieces, reclining seats and company were all perfect. 

Date night!

Date night!

Yesterday morning we met the dog hiking group for a nice 2 hour hike in a beautiful park in nj. After the organized hike ended we walked around for another 40 minutes to take in more of the beautiful leaves and fresh air. It was just about 50 degrees and sunny. 

hot-flashes

I was struggling on some rock scrambles and worked up a good sweat trying not to fall. Leaves can disguise a lot.

gandc

My guy and his boy

happy-doodle-hike

Seriously! The cutest doodle in the world…..that’s his pal Chester behind him

horsing-around

Just horsing around =)

Duncan and Boone

Duncan and Boone

#whennaturecalls

#whennaturecalls

I have been a little overwhelmed lately with all of my work commitments and getting away from my laptop and spending some quality time with my guy and the pups was just what I needed. We hit up the local apple farms cider mill for a fresh baked cider donut and then met some of the hiking group for lunch.

cider-donuts

they were so fresh that they were still warm!

After some more work on my end and house cleaning/football game watching for mr S we went grocery shopping together and then cooked meals for ourselves for the week.

This is how I work. And this is how the dogs relax after a good hike.

This is how I work. And this is how the dogs relax after a good hike.

And then it was late and I had to go home and I pouted and sulked knowing I had a busy week of work ahead of me and that I wouldn’t see him again until Sunday. It’s hard to leave the one you love even for just a few days. I guess if we lived together I might be saying the opposite though. Lol.

Thank god for the hike because I have been fairly lazy since the marathon a week ago. I need to get through some more busy weeks at work but will slowly figure out a new exercise regimen by thanksgiving. I’m not happy about being a sloth buy it is what it is and I need to just be gentle with myself until I feel more adjusted to all these work commitments.

Runkeeper reminding me i've done nothing since the marathon

Runkeeper reminding me i’ve done nothing since the marathon

Well at least I know I’ll be slowly running two 5ks right after thanksgiving. Both are charity fundraisers. And definitely more hikes. This guy says more hikes. 

more hikes!

more hikes!

Have a great week! 

What’s new with you?

Who is already planning for Thanksgiving? Christmas? 2016?

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