Happy Monday…well it’s sorta late so I’ll also say Happy Tuesday too..

I spent the entire weekend with Mr SOTSS and it was such a treat!

Happiness is...

Happiness is…

It’s rare we have 2 solid days that are completely just for us to do whatever, whenever.I actually arrived at Mr. SOTSS’s house on Friday night after work and was in the middle of what I can now diagnose (per Google of course) as a spasm of the Piriformis =)  Weak pelvis/hips ladies and gents! The Piriformis is a pelvis stablizer and it makes sense since my hips/core are weak and my lower back has been bothering me that my Piriformis has been working hard at stablizing the pelvis. The whole kinetic chain thing! I used heat, ice and wine to alleviate the pain as best I could. Saturday morning I wasn’t anywhere near able to run but at least Mr. SOTSS got to run. He ran 8 miles with his loyal pooch Chester. It was cool and drizzly which allowed Chester the opportunity for the full 8. Since I couldn’t run, I walked Duncan into town to drop a card in the mailbox and then I tried to bike ride.
bikeSuccess! I hadn’t been on my bike since last fall. I kept it in the easier gear and just pedaled around Mr SOTSS’ neighborhood for about 30 minutes.
Then I came back and found this video on YouTube showing how to use a tennis ball to work out the spasm.
(The piriformis is right in the meaty part of your glute and sits on the sciatic nerve which is why it can be so painful) I have to say that within a few hours of doing the tennis ball trigger point massage and the pidgeon stretch I felt so much better!
Saturday night we cooked dinner together and then went to see Ted2. Cooking together was so lovely.
Fajitaless chicken

Fajitaless chicken

The movie Ted2 was really funny. I am 12 and get a kick out of teddy bears that curse. =)
Movie essentials

Movie essentials

Sunday morning we went on a hike with our dog hiking meetup group. And then we all had lunch together. It was raining but the trees protected us from most of the drops. So we got to enjoy the sounds of a downpour but only felt a drizzle.
It's like I'm wearing a raincoat dress. Not my best look!

It’s like I’m wearing a raincoat dress. Not my best look!

Always.on.the.go!

Always.on.the.go!

dirty doodle

dirty doodle

I looked up and took this picture. Only got one raindrop on my face

I looked up and took this picture. Only got one raindrop on my face

Sporting my Pro Compression leggings. I really love them

Sporting my Pro Compression leggings. I really love them

It was awesome! In the evening we made dinner together again. He did the outside grilling and I did the indoor sautéing.

We split the work. He did the outside grilling and I did the indoor sautéing

Grilled asparagus, chicken, salmon and sauteed eggplant and squash

After dinner we all just did a whole lotta lounging…
pile of paws

pile of paws

His tag matches the patio furniture so nicely

His tag matches the patio furniture so nicely

Chester was my heating pad on Friday night. Thanks buddy.

Chester was my heating pad on Friday night. Thanks buddy.

And then I had to go home. BOO! Well, I hope to run a little bit toward the end of the week and over the holiday weekend.

Oh and guess what? I won a Pro Compression sweepstakes/contest thingy held by Ali On The Run. I scored myself these awesome compression sleeves.

What's better than Pro Compression Calf Sleeves? Free Pro Compression Calf Sleeves!

What’s better than Pro Compression Calf Sleeves? Free Pro Compression Calf Sleeves!

Yup! It was a truly wonderful weekend. And now I’ve gotta get back to my work. I’m back to freelancing full time and boy oh boy am I busy right now. Have a great week!

Do you wear compression gear?

Did it rain at all for you this weekend?

Do you like to grill?

Ah!

Happy Wednesday. I was just thinking how much I’ve been enjoying being free of any rigid training schedule for the last 2 months.

No rigid training for 3 more weeks!!! =)

No rigid training for 3 more weeks!!! =)

I have about 3ish more weeks before I start training for the NYC Marathon on November 1 and 3 half marathons before that (although all the half marathons will fall under “long training run”).

Today I did an easy 4 miles. 4 miles is finally starting to feel like a short distance to me again! YAY!

it wouldn't be a Garmin shot without a doodle bomb

it wouldn’t be a Garmin shot without a doodle bomb

So my friend’s mom who I visited last Friday passed away on Monday. While she was 91 it was pancreatic cancer that took her and I have to say watching her deteriorate over the last 6 months was painful. I would go a few months between visits and when I saw her on Friday I knew it was a matter of days. I’m going to miss her. I dedicated my run today to her and will say my final goodbye tonight at the services. I thought about her and a few other friends who are caregivers to relatives and it brought up a lot of emotion for me. I remember those last few months of my hubby’s life (back in 1999) as Melanoma spread to all his organs. At 25 I had no experience in dealing with any of what I had on my plate. I tried to keep it together and be strong to care for him but I would get so frustrated and overwhelmed. But somehow I managed. And I have those special memories of his final hours before he took his last breath. I remember the first year afterward. I had to remind myself to move, breathe, eat….

Step forward. Repeat. Breathe!

Step forward. Repeat. Breathe!

Thankfully now I have running in my life. It really helps me when the emotions build up. Such a release!

And now I have Mr. SOTSS too! A second love story in the making.

My smiley. Love him so....

My smiley. Love him so….

Last night we had a crazy thunder/lightning storm but it ended about 20 minute before sunset and left this beautiful colored sky.

IMG_6435

So, my injuries? Here’s where we’re at:

My shoulder/rotator cuff: Remember when I fell of the snowmobile back in February while on a winter weekend getaway with Mr. SOTSS? Almost 5 months later and I can finally raise my arm straight up. I still can’t lift it out to the side and up but I can get it about 90 degrees. I can finally put my hair in a ponytail and get dressed without difficulty. I’m doing all of my PT exercises once or twice a week at home and feel pretty confident I’ll be close to 100% before the year is out.

My knee: Well back in March I started seeing Dr. Willams who told me it was scar tissue that built up in my quads and was causing my knee to be off track hence the pain. I still feel a “twinge” when I’m running and going up and down stairs but it is so minor and really not an issue anymore as far as my running goes. My daily foam rolling, hip, glute and core strengthening and stretching is definitely keeping things status quo.

My ankle/calf: This is also pretty much resolved although like the knee I’ll still feel a little aching the day after a long run or if I’ve been on my feet all day. I’ve been rolling and stretching here too and I’m fairly certain it’s also working at keeping things at bay.

My lower back: I haven’t mentioned this much. It started hurting a few days before the New Jersey Marathon back at the end of April. I kept thinking I slept on it wrong. Well, 2 months later and it seems that it’s a posture issue. I sit a lot during the day and don’t focus too much on my posture. Running seems to actually bring the most relief probably because it loosens up the muscles. I’m working at strengthening the abs/core which I’m sure are a big reason my back has been achy. Standing is the absolute worst. I was taking photos at a party for 5 hours a few weekends ago and after felt spasms that actually started to wrap around to my hips in the front.

So hopefully another 3 weeks of easy non rigid training will allow my body a little more healing times so I can kick off NYC Marathon training feeling strong.

Duncan thought he’d get a good stretch in too to prevent injury.

Sort of a downward dog

Sort of a downward dog

How are you feeling? 

Any injuries? 

Who here has back issues? 

Have you ever been with someone as they took their last breath?

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

Summer is now officially here! I went running last night and timed it to catch the first official sunset of the season.

Summer's first sunset

Summer’s first sunset

I covered 8 miles and brought my anxiety level down a whole lot of notches!

8 miles

8 miles

It was really peaceful and for a hot summer day I lucked out as there was a great ocean breeze and the humidity had dropped.

IMG_6404

Sometimes birds will just chill out on these wood pilings. I always get a kick out of that.

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

Running through honeysuckle-ville! So sweet!

happy!

My view for a few of the miles!

I'll never be able to move away from the ocean.

I’ll never be able to move away from the ocean.

Here's the hare....I guess I was the tortoise =)

Here’s the hare….I guess I was the tortoise =)

sweating out the small stuff

sweating out the small stuff

I had a highly emotional weekend. It started on Friday with a trip to my friend’s house. Her mom is in her last days as she has been battling cancer and it’s taking a toll. She’s lived a very long life but it doesn’t make it any easier to see someone deteriorate and suffer with the. I went for a run friday too.

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

Since it was Flashback Friday I wore my very first Ragnar Relay team shirt—Running on Butter!

I’ve been much slower but just happy to be able to run. I’m on track to start NYC Marathon training in about 3-4 weeks. Woo hoo!

Saturday I joined my friend and his family for the Walk to Defeat ALS. His mom was diagnosed last year as was a former coworker’s husband. It was a wonderfully successful walk and my friend’s mom even walked the whole thing but it brought so much emotion out. The cold hard facts about this disease are grave and hard to believe.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

In the car waiting for everyone to arrive. An innocent smile before it all sank in.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

Supporting Mrs. C because she deserves all the support in the world.

My former coworker’s husband found a unique way to raise money for ALS research. It’s called Pickals. Go check it out.

After the walk I took Duncan to his first ever doggie birthday “paw-tee”. Peanut was having a bash for her 6th birthday.

it's not a party without a cake!

it’s not a party without pup-cakes and paw-tee bags!

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

How cute is she in this birthday dress?

It was really cute. Duncan was a little freaked out though by all the noise and hoopla. We stayed for an hour or so and he even won a prize for doing tricks. Then we had to head out to my brother’s house for a BBQ.

Playing with his loot the next day

Playing with his loot the next day

There was also some bargain shopping and some cleaning that went down in between everything else. And lots of chill time with this loyal companion…

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

Eyeballing my post run bowl of cereal

in the car on the way to Peanut's birthday paw-tee

in the car on the way to Peanut’s birthday paw-tee

Here’s to a good week! Hope you all have a good one.

Tell me about your weekend?

So I just noticed that June 13th was my 2nd blog anniversary. I’m 5 days late! OOpsie! It’s crazy to think I’ve stuck with this for 2 years already. My life has changed so much in the last 2 years but one thing that hasn’t changed is my love of running and of course I still stand firm that it’s the best way for me to sweat out the small stuff!

My first post!

My first blog anniversary post!

Yesterday morning I met my friend Robin for a 5 mile run along the boardwalk. By 9am I had reached 10,000 steps. Love those kind of mornings.

I love the sun sparkled water and of course my favorite Verrazano Bridge!

I love the sun sparkled water and of course my favorite Verrazano Bridge!

My nephew turned 17 on Tuesday. It’s crazy to think he’s not that little toddler on the left anymore.

birthday boy!

birthday boy! (and photo bomb from his dog Casey)

I’m taking a rest day today. It’s actually good running weather—cool and rainy—but I know I need the rest so I will refrain and stretch and foam roll instead.

Last weekend my boyfriend’s daughter had a dance recital. It made me a little nostalgic so in honor of #throwbackthursday here is one of my very adorable recital shots =)

Me and my 2 left feet

Me and my 2 left feet

And before I leave you all to get some work done I just thought I’d share this pic of Duncan from last night. He was in his “Northern Exposure” phase and pulled out a buffalo and Bullwinkle the Moose. HA HA!!!!

Duncan

Duncan

Hope you all have a super day!

What did you eat for breakfast today?

I had peanut butter and apricot preserves on whole wheat toast and COFFEE!