weekly wrap: 4.15.2018 – 4.21.2018

Posted on April 23, 2018 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and Taking The Long Way Home!

If you do a weekly recap post, this is a great way to check in with other active bloggers for extra support, sharing and accountability.

 

Here’s the week in numbers:

Sunday – rest
Monday – 6 miles, running
Tuesday – yoga, 60 minutes
Wednesday – 6 miles, running
Thursday – HIIT circuit
Friday – rest
Saturday – 6,4 miles, running

The week was fulls of ups and downs. A lot is changing very quickly and I am just treading water to keep up.

Sunday – rest

Sunday was a fairly blah day. We’ve been having awful thunderstorms and were pretty much confined to the house.

Monday – 6 miles, running

The temperature had dropped again, so I had to bundle up for the cold.

Since the weather was cooler, I started trying to walk Delilah. She is really struggling with some aches and pains in the morning and I want to help her get in better shape (yes, round is a shape, but she needs to be a little less round). I wish I could say it’s our fault, but this is the weight she came to us, and she’s not motivated to be very active. She gets regular (grain-free) dog food, very few treats and even fewer table scraps, and I just want her to be happier and healthier.

She has other ideas. She is apparently quite happy with her portliness and has no intention of giving in easily to activity. It’s a work in progress. Yes, she is digging in her nails and pulling back on the leash. Also yes, she is refusing to look at me. Yes, I adore her to pieces.

I ended up getting stuck at work late due to a coworker’s family emergency, so the rest of the evening was off my regular routine. I was glad not to be off duty, but it threw my week way off.

Tuesday – sunrise power hour, 60 minutes

For some reason, this flow was really difficult. We started in downward dog and I feel like we stayed there the entire time. Too much upside down doesn’t agree with me, so I struggled. We also did some new positions, which I couldn’t land in class, but I got them at home.

Our instructor advised us to practice “ahimsa,” and be kind to ourselves all day, and I really took that to heart and focused on the positive things.

I ended up working the full day, as well – Mr PugRunner was an absolutely trooper with getting dinner ready and managing homework. I was very appreciative.

Wednesday – 6 miles, running

Another chilly six mile run. I wanted to go a little longer, but slacked off.

After work, I just vegged. We went out to dinner and I watched a lot of mindless tv.

Thursday – HIIT Circuit, 40 minutes

We had a pretty hardcore circuit at the gym, with lots of wall ball, burpees, and plank jacks.

Afterwards, I got cleaned up, did some writing and catching up on emails, and then headed out for errands and to meet S for lunch. It was good to get out and about for a bit.

We got some wonderful news when little man got home – he had made the Battle of the Books Team! He has been dutifully attending tryouts for the past few weeks and we were all so proud of him! We don’t know if he will be an alternate or a main competitor, but I am thrilled that he put himself out there and earned a spot!

Friday – rest

I thought about going for a bike ride, but ended up just letting it go. I spent time cleaning the house and working on laundry. I picked up promotion Cub Scout gifts from our Advancement Coordinator and decided to try something new for dinner.

These zucchini “meatballs” were easy to make and a huge hit. Even little man ate them without complaint. The original recipe (here) called for pomodoro, but I made this version with pesto and it was yummy.

Saturday – 6.4 miles, running

I had hoped to run early with S, but woke up to a huge thunderstorm. I was able to wait it out for 6.4 lonely miles. Our neighborhood was having a garage sale and it was a huge morale boost to run down my street to learn that Mr PugRunner had prepaid for some donuts from me from the neighbor’s kids (they were selling donuts and coffee in addition to their other items).

We lounged around for the day, until it was time to go out to dinner with our friends. Little man stayed with their boys and sitter, and he even spent the night!

In the meantime, we enjoyed things like deviled eggs with fried oysters and tomato jam

and this mocha milkshake.

I have no idea why we don’t have photos of us all dolled up, but I will do better next time.

It ended up being not too late of a night, which was nice. We got in tons of conversation, walking and hanging out, and I would be in great shape for the following day’s Cub Scout Promotion!

 

Little man is turning 10 this week, so my focus is going to be on his birthday weekend! It promises to be very exciting and I hope he has a wonderful time!

How was your week in review?

Do you practice “ahimsa” or do you need to be reminded to be kind to yourself?

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girls racecation weekend at publix savannah women’s half marathon

Posted on April 19, 2018 by runswithpugs

I am an ambassador for the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon. I have been gifted with a complimentary race entry and other amenities and compensation in exchange for promoting the event. All opinions are my own.

Racecation weekend had finally arrived! I was in desperate need of some time with my sole sisters, in a beautiful city, with lots of delicious food, gorgeous sights, and running. Lots of running.

Friday

Meghan got to my house around 10:00 in the morning. We loaded up my car and said goodbye to Florida. Traffic was nasty, turning our normally two hour trip into a three hour journey. Sigh.

We were ravenous by the time we arrived in town, so we dropped our bags at The DeSoto (our room wasn’t ready), and walked a few blocks to grab a quick snack. The Collins Quarter had a table available promptly, and we opted for Drunken Berry Mimosas and a burger to share.

It was just what we needed.

Properly fueled, we walked back to the hotel in time to move our things into our room and head down to the Fashion Fitness Expo. Things hadn’t gotten too busy yet, so we were able to collect our bibs, swag and gifts and do a little shopping while we waited for Amy and M and S to arrive.

This year’s Finisher’s Gift was a branded backpack. It’s awesome. We also received a really cool reusable bottle and towel from Publix, as well as a Nourish bath bomb and lip balm from Savannah Bee Company. I also loved the event merchandise and snagged trucker hat and muscle tank.

We got some more photos and then our little group was ready to walk to dinner.

Our restaurant of choice was Treylor Park. It’s a favorite, and we love to get there for their Happy Hour. This time, it was a little more crowded, so we ended up eating in their Beer Garden.

The evening wrapped up with cones at Leopold’s. Because it has to be done.

Back at The DeSoto, we laid out our outfits and tried to get some sleep.

We were treated to some live music from the street and a fireworks display over the river. It was unexpected and while I stayed up later than I had planned, it was a nice treat.

Saturday – Race Morning

Since we were only a few blocks away from the start line, I got to “sleep in” a little.The 6:00 alarm was perfect. Meghan and I got up, got dressed and we were ready to go!

Right before the National Anthem, we met up for an Ambassador photo. Cecilia (far right) was the singer and as always, she gave the most beautiful performance.

I also got to meet Robin, one of my readers! So cool!

Amy, Meghan and I looked around for S and M, who had come from a different hotel. The “Snack Pack” was ready for a half marathon!

Miles 1 – 3

The first four miles of the race were tough for me. For some reason, I didn’t have myself together when I got to the start line, and I couldn’t shake it. Amy, M, S and I started at a fairly nice clip, headed toward the river. At Mile 1, we turned left onto West Bryan Street, and then another left onto Jefferson. That’s where the squares started. I adore the squares in Savannah, but the constant corners are always tough on my hips. At this point, Amy peeled off from our group, as she is coming back from a nasty injury.

Miles 4 – 6

At this point, I realized that S was hyperfocused and not chatting. We always chat on our weekly runs, and it’s such a great distraction. It wasn’t right without her leading the conversation, so I spoke up and got that situation rectified quickly.

These miles are pretty far outside the downtown area and lead down Washington Avenue, where exist some of the most gorgeous properties in the area. The homes are absolutely beyond and I confess to checking out the For Sale signs and making mental notes as we pass.

The hardest part of this area is that we pass runners who are already on the return trip. There was lots of cheering and excitement on both sides of the road, but I really couldn’t wait to get to that other side.

Miles 7 – 9 

Into Daffin Park we went. At this point, the humidity was doing a number on me, I had made a critical error by not carrying hydration with me, and was relying on the aid stations for electrolytes. M and S were so strong and I told them to go on ahead.They refused, and I dug deep.

We passed the Savannah Bananas stadium, and wound our way through the Park. I had some Gu, and convinced myself to get it together.

Miles 10 – 11

I was starting to feel a little better, other than a dull ache in the arch of my right foot. I was really concerned about my plantar fasciitis flaring up, but we obviously had to keep going. We ran back down Washington, with a little box around Hedeman Park, and finally, we made the right hand turn back on to Price Street.

Whooooo!

Miles 12 – 13.1

Oh, I was so excited to see that Mile 12 sign.

So. Excited.

The end of this race is challenging because we have to run past Forsyth Park (and the finish line), to loop up another street and set of squares, then back around.

But finally, we could see the park. And the fountain. And the finish arch.

And we kicked it in for a strong finish! (The announcer, Fitz Koehler, dubbed us The Snack Pack because of our shirts, and I loved it!)

Whoo hoo!

We collected our medals and Publix snack bags (with water and fruit and mini muffins, they are truly outrageous snack bags)

We went back around the area to find Meghan so we could wait to cheer Amy in!

Then it was time to party!

On our way out from the Finisher’s Chute, we stumbled across this adorable pug. I had behaved myself and not stopped for a single puppy during the race, so there was absolutely nothing to keep me from grabby handsing this sweet baby (check him out at @the_winstapug and give him some love!)

Ember City was performing at the amphitheater as we made our way past the amphitheater to the bar.

Runners are treated to two drinks: beers or mimosas. I knew we had mimosas coming at brunch and so I went with beer.

It was everything.

Our group had a blast hanging out at the after party, but we started getting hungry and wanted to make our way back to our respective hotels before the rain came.

We had literally just gotten to the fountain when the rain started to fall.I was able to snag this one photo. It’s a keeper.

This is my third year running the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon, and each year has been better than the last. Attention is paid to every detail, from the expo, to the post-party to the rest of the festivities. The course is unfailingly gorgeous. The volunteers at the water stops and aid stations were friendly and encouraging. The bling is always on point.  There was music and great signs and oh, yes. Free photos, courtesy of SportsPhotos.com. It is always such a pleasure to run these streets, and this year, I had the pleasure of doing it with friends who had never raced in Savannah.

To be continued with the rest of our weekend in Savannah and Yoga on the Square!

And mark your calendars! The Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon is scheduled for April 6, 2019! I’m going to be there! Will you?

What makes a great racecation for you?

Will you be joining us next year?

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weekly wrap: 4.8.18 – 4.14.18

Posted on April 15, 2018 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and Taking The Long Way Home!

If you do a weekly recap post, this is a great way to check in with other active bloggers for extra support, sharing and accountability.

It’s also Marathon Monday! Good luck to everyone who is running today!

And so another season of distance running comes to a close. As a result, this week was kind of unmoored and disorganized. We wanted to rest from our half but at the same time, didn’t want to lose major momentum. It’s a fairly delicate balance.

Here’s the week in numbers:

Sunday – Yoga on the Square
Monday – rest day
Tuesday – rest day
Wednesday – 6 miles, running
Thursday – 5 miles, running
Friday – HIIT Circuit Class
Saturday – 6 miles running, 3.5 miles cycling

 

Sunday – Yoga on the Square

The Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon wraps up with a complimentary recovery yoga session in Ellis Square on Sunday morning, led by Dancing Dogs Yoga. It’s such a great event and a lovely way to unwind before we check out and hit the road for home.

Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating: it was 45 degrees as we walked to our session. We popped into both Rise Donuts and The Coffee Fox for some fortifications.

It’s tradition.

The flow warmed me up fairly quickly, and my muscles for very grateful for the deep stretches.

Afterwards, Meghan, Amy and I checked out of our hotel and met S and M for a final breakfast. Yum.

We got home mid-afternoon, but it wasn’t the happiest scene. Bentley had not been feeling well at all. He had his tail down, wasn’t eating or drinking and was isolating himself far from everyone. I was so sad to see him unwell and couldn’t wait to get him into the vet the next day.

Monday – rest

Because we deserved it.

There’s no rest for the racecationer, though. We got little man off to school and Bentley off to the doctor with Mr PugRunner. Work was awful because I was just waiting for news. The final verdict – everything was clear, including his X-rays, except he was going to need some teeth removed. Boo. He came home with a bunch of prescriptions and a surgery date for Friday.

Our Scout Leader meeting for the evening was thankfully canceled. I usually don’t mind them, but I desperately needed a night off.

Tuesday – rest

This was an unplanned rest day, due to impending thunderstorms. And what storms they were. The thunder was so loud it woke me up in the middle of the night, and I was pretty glad we decided to stay in.

I drove little man to the bus stop, got him off to school and no sooner did I walk back in the house than the hail started coming!

It was crazy! At our house, it wasn’t so bad, but there were softball sized chunks of ice coming down not too far from us. Yikes!

Wednesday – 6 miles, running

Finally, we could get back out there! It was a wonderful feeling!

Wednesday was fairly uneventful. I love having the early release day for little man from school, especially knowing that his karate class isn’t until after dinner, so we have a little down time.

Thursday – 5 miles, running

We weren’t able to go to the gym on Thursday, so we opted for another run. It wasn’t the best one ever, but I was glad to be out there, doing it.

I had hoped to take myself to a movie, but Bentley was still feeling poorly despite his meds, so I decided to just stay home and be there if he needed anything. I didn’t mind the excuse to wear pajamas most of the day and veg out.

That evening was our last official den meeting for Scouts. Our Cubmaster had asked for parents to join her for a brief final meeting, so I took the Den outside for some “Silly Olympics.”

When the meeting ended, Mr PugRunner and the parents came out with some exciting news: I had been named Assistant Cubmaster for next year! What? I had offered my assistance, but I didn’t realize I had been selected! Holy moly!

Friday – Circuit Class, 60 minutes

I woke up with a  bit of a headache so skipped my gym session with the ladies, but made it up by going back to the Circuit Class I used to attend. It was a good workout, and it was nice to mix things up.

In the meantime, Bentley went in for his surgery.

After a quick shower, I met another friend and her little boy for lunch. We haven’t seen each other in a while, so it was nice to get together.

After a very long day, Mr PugRunner came home, with a much happier (although still slightly drugged) Bentley. The surgery was a success and all was well!

We went out for sushi instead of cooking at home. No way was I complaining about that.

Saturday – 6 miles running + 3.5 miles cycling

Our neighborhood was having a community event for which Mr PugRunner had agreed to volunteer. I slept in a little bit but then I went out for a run, leaving enough time to get back for him to leave.

I had wanted to take little man to an open ride near a local farm as part of the start to blueberry season, but I also knew Mr PugRunner wanted us to come to the neighborhood shindig, so I compromised. Little man and I rode our bikes to Dunkin for breakfast, and then back to the fields to hang out.

My parents came down, too, just to visit and see Bentley. He was doing 100% better and we were very grateful (after all, he’s 12 years old, and it could have been so much worse).

After that, we were good with just chilling at home. We got dinner and then the boys went outside to hang with the neighbors around a fire, while I called it a night.

 

I feel like it was a fairly productive recovery week, and while I am a little disappointed to see my miles drop off, I know my body needs and deserves the break, and I have to honor that.

We are going to take another easy week and then it will be time to look at the spring and summer training calendar. We’ve already highlighted a few events we’d like to run, so that should hopefully keep us motivated.

How was your week in training?

Do you even take on leadership roles in your community?

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on fridays we do goat yoga

Posted on April 13, 2018 by runswithpugs

If you know anything about me, you know I love animals. LOVE.

For the last couple of years, I’ve heard rumblings of something called “goat yoga.” Always in places unfairly far away from me. So I just added it to my bucket list and quietly sulked about the injustice of it all.

Until last month. when a notification from the Clay County Fair popped up on my Facebook feed, announcing a FREE (with gate ticket) Goat Yoga session on the first Friday of the fair.

Guys, if Facebook and Alexa are spying on me and listening to my conversations, and it brings me gifts like Goat Yoga, then I am a-ok with the invasion of privacy.

I RSVP’d immediately, and started counting the minutes to the big day.

I even had my friend at Cutified Creations make me a special shirt.

On Friday morning, I got to the fair about 25 minutes before it opened and hopped on line. I had no idea what kind of crowd they were expecting, but I had no intention of being shut out of this event.

My concerns were valid. By the time I purchased my ticket, went to the restroom and got to the Cattleman’s Arena, it was 11:15 and the goat corral was absolutely swarmed with men, women and children, looking forward to the class.

I signed the liability waiver and got into the pen. By this point, the area was probably 70% full and I was able to find mat space near the back corner, along the gate. I put my bag and flip flops behind me and one of the volunteers advised that I stick everything outside the gate because the goats will nibble. Sure enough, one of the goats wandered over and started investigating my hat, so I complied.

The corral was lined with wood shavings, and in the middle was a platform, reserved for the yoga instructor. Goats were absolutely everywhere, doing whatever it is that goats do.

I was in heaven.

After everyone got organized and settled, the class began. It was a 30 minute flow, and I’m sorry to say, it wasn’t the most strenuous class I’ve ever taken. Mostly because I was way more interested in hugging goats than finding my inner breath.

I’m not sorry at all.

The goats were adorable. They wandered in and out, investigating the yogis. Volunteers wandered around the mats, making sure that no one was bothering the animals (everyone was very respectful) or the animals weren’t bothering anyone else (a group of goats found great interest in the woman in the corner behind me and effectively penned her in).

We moved through a nice, easy flow, while keeping an eye on the sweet animals around us.

At one point, I got stuck on my belly, because a couple of goats decided to walk over my legs. It was ok. I was fine waiting.

I didn’t stop smiling the whole time.

I was sorry to have the practice come to an end. I was practically skipping. There’s just no way to spend time with these sweet creatures and not walk away in a good mood, especially when doing sun salutations at the same time.

There were only two minor negatives to the whole experience. Yes, goats tend to relieve themselves wherever they choose. One did so in the vicinity of my mat. It wasn’t super close, but I had to keep an eye on it, just in case. And the who shavings went everywhere. It took some seriously scrubbing to get them off my yoga mat, and when I got in the shower when I got home, they were falling out of my sports bra and other places. It wasn’t a dealbreaker for me.

Mission accomplished. I can officially check Goat Yoga off my bucket list, but I would do it again at every opportunity.

And no. I did not kidnap that little baby. I wanted to, in the worst way, but I restrained myself. See? I can behave.

Have you done or would you do Goat Yoga?

What’s the coolest non-traditional activity on your bucket list?

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but first, gate river run {3.10.2018}

Posted on April 11, 2018 by runswithpugs

For those who follow along at home, you probably already know about the Gate River Run.

It’s the largest 15K in the country, and perhaps one of the most well-known and well-attended races in the Jacksonville area. I have an intense love-hate relationship with it. The Gate is hard. Freaking hard. But oh, so much fun. It’s one of the those things where you really have to have the right mindset going in.

What makes the Gate so challenging is the later start (8:30 AM, although they did move it up to 8:00 AM this year, which was a huge improvement), the huge crowds of runners leading to lots of course congestion, and the two ginormous bridges, right at the end of Mile 1 and again at about Mile 7.5.

But on the other side, this race is fun. There is an incredible vibe and the course is lined with spectators. Even more importantly those spectators are cheering holding signs, offering high fives, and handing out all kinds of things from beer and mimosas to grilled sausage and popsicles.

I do love a good buffet.

Due to work, I wasn’t able to attend the expo this year. S was kind enough to pick up my bib, shirt and commemorative pint glass (it’s easy enough to pick up a packet for a friend with a signed form).  I did miss getting to see some of the vendors, but I also didn’t mind avoiding some of the craziness.

On race morning, S, A and I all had a plan to meet up. With the race start being 30 minutes earlier, I left the house at about 5:30 AM so ensure a good parking spot. For the first time, I hit some traffic driving into the stadium parking lot, but was rewarded with a space right by the start line.

It was freezing that morning and I really struggled with my outfit. I was wearing shorts and a tank because I knew it would warm up and the sun was going to be out, but I toyed with a long sleeve shirt, and even with capris. I finally ended up just deciding to be cold at the start line, supplementing my outfit with gloves and an ear warmer. I wasn’t sure how windy it was going to be at the top of the bridges, and wanted to be prepared.

We got to our Wave at the start line. The sun was at full power and it was already starting to get warm.

After the National Anthem, the corrals began to be released. It still took us a few minutes to get through the crowds and start running.

Miles 1 -2

The first two  miles of the race take runners on a path through downtown Jacksonville and up and over the Main Street Bridge. The elevation on this bridge, isn’t awful, but it’s early in the race when adrenaline is high. Footing can be treacherous because it’s a lot of metal grating, and I confess that I just can’t look down to the water below. It makes me a wee bit nauseous.

Ono the plus side, we ran right up that bridge! Yay for us!

Miles 3-5

After the Main Street Bridge, we come into the San Marco area. This is full of music and people and local businesses. We plugged along, enjoying all the spectators, and still feeling pretty good. It was definitely warmer. I had stripped my gloves off earlier, and my ear warmer was no longer needed.

The businesses gave way to residential areas – there are some truly gorgeous homes along this route, and most of the neighborhoods are lined with lovely shade trees. The shade was a welcome relief. I regretted not having a visor but it wasn’t a race-breaker for me.

Miles 6 – 7

The party started here. We were now in the Atlantic Boulevard of the race. This is comprised of more pretty neighborhoods, sandwiched between two uninteresting stretches of highway.

I had been pretty good about not taking anything besides water along the way, but my friend K was spectating and had made me a giant mimosa. When I saw her and her brother and sister-in-law, I hustled right on over! I sipped on that mimosa for a full mile, and then I moved on to a nice popsicle. It was perfect.

After that, I snagged a ziplock of rummy bears! Which are exactly what you would think. And they were magical.

Thus fortified, we began the final trek to the Hart Bridge. The Hart-Breaker. The Green Monster.

Ugh.

Miles 8-9

This bridge is always so hard. The curved onramp is tough on the knees and hips. And at this point in the game, I’m always just done.

From the highest point of the bridge, it is one mile down through the finish line. There is actually a separate competition to see who can complete the final mile the fastest.

I was really ready to be done, and I think that was pretty clear on my face throughout the last bits of the race.

I still had enough for one more smile, though.

We collected our medals at the finish line and then started waiting for other friends to come through.

My finish wasn’t as strong as I would have liked, but I had a darn good time – we had so much fun out there it almost didn’t seem like racing.

S had to leave for some other family events, and I ran into A at one of the hospitality tents. She had separated from us in the last mile and I was so glad to give her a huge before I had to go.

The race post party is a lot of fun with tons of beer, music and people, so I had a celebratory drink and made my way home. It had been a really busy week and I missed my guys so I wanted to spend some time with them.

Another year of River Run in the books.

Is there a race by you that is famous either nationally or locally?

What’s a feature of races that you find most challenging?

 

 

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weekly wrap: 4.1.2018 – 4.7.2018

Posted on April 9, 2018 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and Taking The Long Way Home!

If you do a weekly recap post, this is a great way to check in with other active bloggers for extra support, sharing and accountability.

I was really looking forward to this week! After all, it was Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon and I was so excited for a few days in Savannah with some of my friends.

Here’s the week in numbers:

Sunday – rest day
Monday – rest day
Tuesday – 6.2 miles running
Wednesday – HIIT circuit (arms)
Thursday – 5 miles, running
Friday – rest day
Saturday – Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, running

Sunday – rest

Happy Easter! We were exhausted from a late night but little man was so excited for the holiday, so we got ourselves up and going.

He loved hunting down his basket, and then we had a chill day at home with a ham dinner. I had hoped to go to the beach to eat, but the high winds just weren’t conducive to a nice al fresco meal.

After our dinner, my mom and I went for a walk around the neighborhood while little man rode his bike. I was stunned to see how much he’s grown, because we had to lift his seat and handlebars a couple of inches.

Monday – rest day

The first day back after Spring Break is always tough. We focused on getting back to a state of normal after all our excitement.

Tuesday – 6.2 miles, running

Not much to say about this run. We did it.

I had work, and little man had music practice. We also had an open PTA meeting that evening which meant spending another hour at school and going out for pizza after.

Wednesday – HIIT circuit, arms

It felt like a while since we had been in the gym, and an arm workout was just what we all needed. I felt great when it was over.

I was also glad when work was over, too. It meant I could focus on my upcoming weekend away. Mr PugRunner took little man to his karate class and I spent some time cleaning up around the house and thinking about packing.

Thursday – 5 miles, running

Last run before Savannah. I wanted to go a few more miles, but decided to hold off since I had big plans for the day.

First, I got little man off to school, along with a large donation of books and little kids’ furniture for one of the kindergarten teachers. From there, it was off to the store to pick up gallons of water for the water stop that the Scouts had committed to for the ready. Set. How 5K, and then pick up little man’s packet for the same event.

I had promised my parents I would meet them to go to the beach to look for the shipwreck that washed ashore a couple of weeks ago, and so I hustled over to the area where we were supposed to be able to find it.

With the wind and soft, shelly sand, it was probably the hardest beach hike I have ever done. Totally worth it, to find the remains of a ship believed to have been built in the 1830s-1860s. Experts are still looking for answers, but in the meantime, it was really cool.

At this time, they are still struggling to get the ruins off the sand, so it’s still available to be seen. I highly recommend it.

That evening, the Webelos earned another optional adventure. We are winding down for the year, so I am trying to help them earn as many achievements as I can.

Friday – rest

Time to go! After  little man headed off to school, I finished collecting my things. Meghan arrived close t0 10 and we hit the road!

There was a ton of traffic, so our normal drive to Savannah took about an hour longer than planned. Ugh! We made one stop on the outskirts of town to get Meghan some new shoes, and then we completed our drive to The DeSoto for check in.

We were famished, so after we stored our bags (our room wasn’t ready yet), we made our way out to grab a quick bite.

With full tummies, and a much better outlook on our day, we returned to the Fashion Fitness Expo to pick up our bibs and participant gift (a gorgeous backpack), and do a little shopping.

In the meantime, Mr PugRunner was off with little man, chaperoning a field trip.

M and S, from back home, met us at the Expo a little while later. I was so excited that my running friends were going to meet!

We grabbed Amy and headed out for our traditional Treylor Park dinner, dessert at Leopold’s and then back to the hotel to get into bed.

Little man, on his end, ran a really wonderful 5K, as well as volunteered with the water stop before and after his run. Rockstar. I was so proud of him, but also sorry to have missed it.

Saturday – Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon, 13.1 miles

Since our hotel was only a few blocks from the race start, we got to “sleep in” until about 6:00. Yay!

We collected Amy and walked over to the start line.

The race was wonderful, as always, and I will fully detail it in a dedicated post. But we finished strong and had a blast doing it!

We showered and changed, and then it was off to a celebratory brunch.

The big damper on the day was the unrelenting rain! Ugh! However, we made the best of it with a visit to the American Prohibition Museum, lots of shopping and a delicious dinner. More on all that soon!

After all the walking around the city, we were fairly ready for another good night’s sleep!

 

Such a fabulous week! I look so forward to these Savannah racecations, and I am so grateful for the amazing running friends I’ve met along the way. These strong and incredible women inspire me and I can’t wait for our next race adventure!

How was your week in training?

Do you have a group of running friends who inspire you.

Have you ever seen a shipwreck up close and personal?

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the 5 things i’m doing in savannah this weekend

Posted on April 6, 2018 by runswithpugs

This is a sponsored post. I am an ambassador for Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon & 5K. Due to that relationship, I receive a complimentary race registration, as well as other sponsor amenities in exchange for my honest reviews and promotion of the event and affiliated sponsors. All opinions are my own.

As we get ready to head out for this weekend’s most amazing Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon and 5K, I wanted to share the five top things on our schedule.

Shop Til I Drop

From the Fashion Fitness Expo at The DeSoto, featuring products from event sponsors, to Fleet Feet Sports Savannah and other shops like Nourish and Savannah Bee Company, my wallet is going to be screaming for mercy.

How can I go home without adorable branded merchandise like this?

Run My Heart Out

Yup. That’s right. Thirteen point one miles around historic Savannah, with a strong finish past the fountain in Forsyth Park. This is what we’ve trained for and this is where we are headed!

Eat All The Things

It wouldn’t be a trip to Savannah without the food. We have our favorites: Treylor Park, Coffee Fox and of course, brunch at The Ordinary Pub.

And let’s not forget ice cream at Leopold’s.

Recover On My Mat

Yoga on the Square is a wonderful way to finish off the weekend. I love getting to unroll my mat outside in the beautiful fresh air and release everything. Join us on Sunday, April 8 at 9AM in Ellis Square to unwind before the racecation comes to an end!

See Something New

Every time we visit, we make it a point to check out a new site. I don’t know what’s in store for us this time, but I cannot wait!

 

Will you be going us in Savannah this year?

What are your vacation must dos?

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another best damn time taking on best damn race in orlando {3.3.18}

Posted on April 4, 2018 by runswithpugs

I am an Ambassador for Best Damn Race. Through my promotion of the event, I earned a complimentary entry to this race. All opinions are my own.

While there are currently four Best Damn Race events, it’ been my habit to run two of them – Jacksonville which is local to home, and Orlando, which is where Meghan lives.

Orlando is fun because Best Damn Race offers a 10K + 5K Challenge: not quite committing to a half marathon, but definitely getting in some miles. With a beer-and-potty break in between.

I like to keep things challenging.

I arrived in Orlando on Friday afternoon, and went to Lake Eola Park to pick up packets for myself and Meghan. I also signed up C for the 5K (only the half and the 5k were open for onsite registration).

I headed out of downtown to Meghan’s house, so I could drop off my stuff and we could get dinner. She always takes me for the best food, and these tacos were no exception.

That’s a Fried Green Tomato taco on the left and a KFC (with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and slaw) on the right. And yes, they were divine.

We chatted on the couch for a bit and then admitted defeat and headed off to bed. It would be fabulous to chat all night, but race mornings come early and we would have 9.3 miles over which to talk.

Saturday morning was fairly chilly, although we knew it would warm up quickly and dressed accordingly. Our first order of business was to get coffee and take a bathroom break, and then we went to check our gear and say hi to our fellow BDR ambassadors.

Every year, we have such a great team. I’m always so proud to be a part of it.

Then we split up for our various race starts. The 10K and half marathon started somewhat earlier, while the 5K began a bit later in the morning.

After the National Anthem, we began our run. I really love this 10K. With the exception of some stretches of brick, it’s a really nice combination of beautiful residential, lovely parks, main road and downtown urban scenery. I love the combination – it keeps things interesting for me.

The humidity was kind of nasty, but it wasn’t a huge detriment to the run at all. Meghan and I just plugged away at the miles. She was having some foot pain, so we slowed down when she needed a break, and otherwise just enjoyed the first race of our challenge.

We crossed the finish line with huge smiles, collected our 10K medals, and went to find C, who had arrived and was waiting for us.

There were maybe 30 minutes until the 5K, so we had to drop off our medals with our gear, go to the bathroom, and grab a beer. And then we hopped right back in the corrals.

Ready to go again!

Granted, it was a little rough the second time around, but we finished strong! And did I mention that there were free race photos? Huge score! We got lots of great shots of both races.

And then it was time to celebrate!

We took advantage of the Best Damn Race BeerGarden, for both beer and cocktails.

And proudly showed off all our bling.

I absolutely loved these medals.

Even though there was a food tent for runners, with lots of delicious treats, we opted to skip out and head to 7 Bites for brunch.

Another fabulous Best Damn Race in the books! I am hoping to add on New Orleans or Safety Harbor next year to change things up!

Have you ever run Best Damn Race?
What’s your favorite race terrain?

 

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weekly wrap: 3.25.18 – 3.31.18

Posted on April 2, 2018 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and Taking The Long Way Home!

If you do a weekly recap post, this is a great way to check in with other active bloggers for extra support, sharing and accountability.

Happy Spring Break to us! We are currently out of school, and although I have work and other things going on, it’s nice to have a bit of a break.

Obviously, things didn’t go quite as planned. Little man’s allergies and another bout of carsickness sidelined us, which was pretty rough. I could have really used a bit of a break, but it is what it is.

Here’s the week in numbers:

  • Sunday – rest day
  • Monday – rest day
  • Tuesday – 7 miles running
  • Wednesday – 5.6 miles, running
  • Thursday –  rest day
  • Friday – goat yoga, 30 minutes
  • Saturday – 8 miles, running

Sunday – rest day

A and I vaguely discussed getting up to run, but when morning came, I just didn’t want to do it. It happens.

Little man was supposed to have a play date, but it fell through, so Mr PugRunner took him out to ride go-carts. Apparently, he is old enough and tall enough to drive the bigger go-carts by himself. He’s growing up so fast.

Monday – rest day

It was the first day of Spring Break. Yay! Little man went to the day camp my friend runs and had the best day. Their theme was Disney and the kids made their own Mickey ears, played gaga balls, designed a theme park map and parade floats and even did an experiment by building houses out of Legos and seeing if they could be carried off by balloons, like the house did in Up.

After I picked him up, I brought him to dinner at my parents. They were going to keep him for the next few days so I could do work and stuff around the house. Mr PugRunner went to dinner with his friends, and we met at home later that night.

On our way up, we stopped at Target. For little man’s birthday, we are redoing his room, so I wanted to let him pick out his bedding and some new accessories. Target was having a great sale on their Pillowfort line and he made some really nice selections.

Tuesday – 7 miles, running

This was a rough run. It was humid despite the chill and I felt like lead. We hung in there for 6.5 miles, though I feel like we should have pushed for more. I hate this slumpy feeling I have and I need to knock it off.

After a fairly rough day at work, I got a call from my parents to say that little man’s allergies were getting worse. We had the nebulizer and humidifier at home, so Mr PugRunner just went to pick him up.

Wednesday – 5.6 miles, running

I mean, it’s like we couldn’t even try to get to six miles. At least the conversation and company was great.

Wednesday was not going to go as planned. I took advantage of the chill day at home to strip down and paint little man’s bedroom. It hasn’t been painted since he was born, and while I kind of didn’t want to do it, I couldn’t deny the improvement it made.

Little man was a huge help by taking off and putting on the switch plates, and he also was really good about going through all his many things and deciding what could stay and what could go out for trash or donation.

Thursday – rest day

The plan: a family day at Jekyll Island.

The reality? Little man had another bout of carsickness about halfway into the drive. And so we had to clean up, turn around and go home. It’s been determined that he can no longer play video games in the car, as it leads to queasiness and nausea.

For the trip home, we played a license plate game instead and he did much better.

The rest of the day was just really blah. I ran some Easter errands, and then we watched some movies, but I was feeling very edgy and anxious and in need of some time out and fresh air.

This was not the Spring Break we had been hoping for. Not by a long shot.

Friday – goat yoga, 30 minutes

I had been planning to attend the free goat yoga session at the Clay County Fair for weeks. Little man was supposed to come with me, but with how he had been feeling and the fact that his allergies were starting to fade, I didn’t want to bring him around all the hay and animals.

Mr PugRunner agreed with me and took little man to work with him, so I could go. Guys. It was amazing. I will do a full review of it, but needless to say, I love baby goats even more than I did before.

It was just what I needed, and since the boys decided to go out to lunch, I got to enjoy a sausage and ice cream on the midway after yoga. Yay!

I was in a much better mood when I got home, and fully ready to face the rest of the weekend. We dyed our Easter eggs and I started organizing the cooking for Easter dinner.

Saturday – 8 miles, running

Tapering for the Publix Savannah Half Marathon meant eight miles for a long run. It actually went really well, and I felt good afterwards.

Saturday promised to be a whirlwind.

First, we went to a Easter event at a nearby neighborhood. Little man wanted to do an egg hunt and see the bunny, so we obliged. Even though he’s almost 10, he still really enjoys this stuff, and I am happy to indulge until the magic is gone.

We got lunch and then it was off to a friends’ gender reveal party. It was so good to see everyone, and we were really happy that little man was back to himself and able to spend a day playing with friends.

There was lots of good food and love and celebrating and we stayed a lot later than I planned. It was totally worth it, though, even if I was up super late on Easter Bunny detail.

 

All in all, it was a solid week, but I wish things had unfolded a little differently. I have already promised little man another attempt at Jekyll for bike riding, and I’m hoping we will have better results in a few weeks.

In straight running news, I completed 93.27 miles this month. Just a little shy of 100, but close.

For my efforts, I won a pedicure gift card, from my local MRTT chapter – it was a random drawing for members who completed a certain number of mile and I was so excited to be selected! Thanks, ladies!

On Friday, I am off to Savannah for a gorgeous racecation weekend, at the Publix Savannah Women’s Half. Online registration closes Wednesday, so this is your last chance to save 15% on the half marathon or 5K with code PUGS18. I am so excited for the entire weekend of fun, including the expo, the race and afterparty and Sunday’s recovery Yoga on the Square. It’s going to be fabulous.

 

How was your week in training?

How is your Spring going so far?

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review: running on clouds with on running

Posted on March 30, 2018 by runswithpugs

This is a sponsored post. I received complimentary shoes and apparel from ON Running and Fleet Feet Savannah, courtesy of my ambassadorship with Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

It’s hard to say what makes a perfect running shoe. Some people want the softest, most cushioned landing, while others prefer a responsive, bouncy ride. There are those who want flexible while other like firm. Some desire a structured upper while dissenters would rather a breathable fabric free of stitching and overlays.

We all have our favorites.

In 2010, Olivier Berhard, Caspar Coppetti and David Alleman joined forces to establish the ON company in Zurich, Switzerland. The goal? To create a running shoe that would provide “the perfect running experience.” Working with their own personal running backgrounds, as well as Swiss engineers, the end result was something pretty unique: shoes with a firm take off and cushioned landing.

Today, ON shoes and apparel can be found in run specialty stores internationally.

And you can find even a pair on my feet.

The Cloudflow are very different from any shoe I’ve ever owned. They fall into the neutral category where I tend to wear stability, but I never really noticed

The upper is incredibly lightweight and breathable, made of an adaptive engineered mesh. It was almost like wearing nothing at all, but at the same time, there was still the security of some structure and support.

The sole is really quite unique. I have never loved soft or cushioned shoes – I always preferred something with a little more pop – and the Cloudflow didn’t disappoint. Lined with 18 “clouds”, I got a really nice burst of energy on my take off, and was then rewarded with a cloud-like return to the street. The landing wasn’t at all mushy or heavy, which is my personal issue with heavy cushion – everything just felt very springy and right.

I also really liked the 6 mm offset on these. I’ve been working hard on maintaining proper running form, and I find I have been doing well with shoes that have a lower drop.

Paired with my trusty inserts, just for that added arch support, these might be my new favorite spadework shoes.

ON also carries a specialized line of men’s and women’s running apparel.

I took the Running Shorts out for a 6 mile spin and was very pleased.

They were incredibly lightweight and didn’t bunch up at all. I really appreciated the flat wide waistband, with drawstring, to ensure a perfect fit,

and the large zipped pocket in the back. It’s large enough for keys, but also for a gel or even some cards.

I have “athletic” thighs, so I also loved that the legs were roomy without being bulky, and I also liked the minimal, but nice detailing.

The fabric is fast drying (which is great for our humid Florida summers) and much lighter weight than any other shorts I own. Currently, they are only available in Black and Navy & Black (shown), but I would certainly purchase these in other colors.

Finally, I tried the Comfort T.

In the interested of full discretion, I don’t usually run in t-shirts, and I don’t love how technical t-shirts fit, so this shirt would be great for more casual days or even for me to wear cycling. The fabric is incredibly soft and wicking, the perfect combination of fashion and function.

The sleeves are a good length, not too full and not too tight.

And I liked that the shirt skimmed the body without being snug or tight. There is another hidden zipper pocket in the back, which again, would be great for keys or cash or gels.

The seams and stitching are flat and high-quality, so no chance of rubbing or chafing.

Ready to try ON for yourself? ON apparel and shoes are available exclusively Fleet Feet Sports Savannah – be sure to check them out at 3405 Waters Avenue when you arrive in town for the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon!

There will also be ON products at the Fleet Feet Booth at the Fashion Fitness Expo on Friday, April 6 from 11AM – 7PM (DeSoto Hotel Savannah, 15 East Liberty Street), so be sure to check them out when you pick up your packet this upcoming weekend!

Don’t forget – online registration ends on Wednesday, April 4, so if you haven’t signed up yet, now’s the time! Code PUGS18 will save you 15%!

Have you ever tried ON shoes or apparel?

What makes the perfect running shoe for you: cushion or responsiveness?

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