weekly wrap: countdown to 2019

Posted on December 10, 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.

We are moving and shaking through December and would you believe it? I am finally just sitting in my big, cozy chair, with some pugs and a blanket, watching Dirty John and taking a breath. Shocking, right?

Not going to lie. It feels good.

Sunday – rest

We had been planning a day at the Jaguars game for about four couples for a few months and the day had finally arrived. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling well at all, so it was hard to get out the door, but I’m glad I did. We arrived early to tailgate, and the Jags decided to show up and win the game, so we were there until the victorious end! Yay!

In the meantime, my parents very graciously took little man to the St. Augustine Moms Blog Inaugural Donuts with Santa event. I was so sad to have missed it, but the team did such a great job, and little man came home with so many cute crafts and a gorgeous Santa photo from Megan Soto Photography.

Also of note, our Elf on a Shelf returned!

Can’t wait to see what kind of shenanigans she gets into.

Monday – rest

It was a fairly quiet Monday. My main job was painting. For the time we have lived in our house, we have never really done much with the front room. It hasn’t been really furnished and we never use the space. However, we were finally getting a hand-built farmhouse table and I wanted everything to be perfect. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

Little man was extra focused in karate that night. He has his next belt test coming up and has to be on point.

Tuesday – 6.1 miles. running

I was finally starting to feel a little better and was happy to get out for a run. My legs were absolutely craving it and though it was uncomfortable, it was needed.

I was able to meet S at the school to help do some door decorating for the classrooms. Both our boys have the same (incredibly cool) teacher – we gave her some choices of door designs and this is what she liked best.

Everyone loved it, including her!

Wednesday – rest

‘Tis the season for giving, and a dear friend of ours set up an afternoon of just that. She organized a stuffing of blessing bags. All the families who came donated things like socks, gloves, ponchos, chapsticks and wipes, and then the children stuffed big ziplock bags with the donations and handmade cards.

It didn’t even take an hour to get the work done and these bags were delivered to our local homeless coalition for distribution.

Thursday – 5 miles, running

On Thursday, I ran around lunchtime, after helping out with some more decorating in the school. My miles and enthusiasm definitely suffered for it.

Little man had his final dress rehearsal for his show on Friday night and I got a glimpse of what was in store for us. I couldn’t wait.

And then it was home to see the new table! Swoon!

I changed the walls from a dark teal to this fresh gray. I finally got some of our favorite family photos hung on the wall in a fun collage. The original area rug and drapes worked just fine and I was able to get some great table decor. In time, I hope to upgrade the small sofa and coffee table in the sitting area, and am on the hunt for a great lighting fixture and upholstered chairs for the ends of the table, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’ve been eating dinner there each night and it changes everything!

Friday – rest

Friday was a day of errands. Christmas is coming, so there is always something to do.

That evening was our big Holiday Story Night at the school. For a part of the evening, teachers and staff would read their favorite holiday stories as students rotate through, and then it was time for the music group’s performance: How To Teach Your Reindeer To Fly.

I am probably a little biased, but this was truly one of the greatest school performances of our time. Little man is in his second year of this group, and he auditioned for a speaking role without even telling me he was doing it! He and his fellows actors and singers all did an absolutely amazing job – I was so proud of all of them!

Saturday – 4 miles, running

Not my best run, but I was pretty tired and not into it.

I finished up and hustled myself to a quick Cub Scouts leader meeting.

We had a birthday party, and then plans to see the new Grinch at the movies. It was certainly not as great as the Boris Karloff version, but we all really enjoyed it. We stayed up way too late watching Elf on the couch at home and I was very, very ready to get to bed.

 

See? I told you things had quieted down. It was truly lovely and well-deserved. This week will be spent painting the stairwell to match the dining room/living area, getting our Christmas tree and working on all the holiday baking and wrapping. It’s such a wonderful time and I truly love all the traditions we keep here.

How was your week in training?

What holiday traditions make you happiest?

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weekly wrap: into december we go

Posted on December 3, 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.

Ehhhhh. I am holding strong, and staying on track, but I am looking forward to the end of the year. The holidays are a great time of year, and I just really want to sit back and enjoy them with family and friends.

But there is work to be done.

Sunday – rest

After a fabulous weekend in South Florida, we had to say our goodbyes and make the drive home. I was really excited to get back to the pugs and try to get the house tidies and set for the week ahead.

Monday – 6 miles, running

Since the weather has been nicer later in the morning, I have been able to run after little man goes to school, rather than before. It’s been a nice break in the wake up department.

I had nothing else planned other than laundry and karate for the day.

Tuesday – Power Yoga Basics, 60 minutes

My friend’s bagel store finally announced its soft open, and believe me, I was there to get some yummy, New York style bagels. They were delicious!

Afterwards, I had the opportunity to take a class at Big Fish Power Yoga. It’s been a while since I spent some time on the mat and this was very much the class I didn’t know I needed. I’ve always been a bit opposed to hot yoga (low blood pressure does not agree with overheating) but I never felt dizzy or woozy. There was no music and the focus on form and getting deep into the poses and positions meant there was very little “playing.” I liked that it was a bit more structured, and I hope that I can work it into my schedule to go again.

Wednesday – 6 miles, running

Another good run, although it got colder again. Brrr.

In the evening, I had a photo session with the St. Augustine Moms Blog. We went into downtown and I can’t wait to see the head shots and group photos from the event. We called it a wrap with a walk around downtown and sangria.

Thursday – rest

I thought about going to the gym, but… didn’t.

I started putting up some holiday decorations and did a huge bunch of work for the upcoming Mother Son Glow Party. More on that to come.

In the evening, our Scout den joined with another den to work on the float for the Christmas Parade on Saturday. The scouts worked hard to cut, shape, and and paint the pieces of the Pinewood Derby float. Power tools for everyone.

Friday – 6 miles, running

I knew I probably wouldn’t get much running done over the weekend, so I opted for another six miles.

I got some things done around the house and then reported to school to start decorating for the Glow Party. It’s our big Mother Son event, and with great music and black lights, it has turned out to be very much anticipated and very well attended.

We got it all done, and by 6:00, we were able to kick back and enjoy the night. The theme was 80s, and I think we did a great job with the style.

I stuck around to help with clean up, and ended up having an awful night of sleep.

Saturday – rest

We had to report to the float staging area pretty early. We got the car decorated the Scouts loaded in. At 9:00, despite the dreary weather (rain!), we were off along the parade route. I don’t think I’ve ever been part of an actual parade before, but it was pretty fun to walk, wave and call good wishes to everyone.

When it was over, we met up with my parents for lunch, and then little man went home with them for the rest of the weekend. They hadn’t had a sleepover in a while and they had some fun holiday events to do with him.

 

So things were a little easier, and will hopefully continue in that vein. My sinus issues are much better, but they have been replaced by some different health concerns. It’s nothing major but it is very much cramping my style. I am hoping to get a handle on that asap.

How was your week in training?

What do you love (or loathe) most about this time of year?

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race report: run turkey run 5k {11.22.18}

Posted on November 28, 2018 by runswithpugs

Another year, another Turkey Trot.

We are very lucky to live in an area with tons of races, even in traditionally colder months (sure, we back off in the summer, but even then, you will still be able to find 5Ks on most weekends). This year was no exception, and I had my choice of approximately five races within 60 miles of my house. Since we were expecting about a dozen people, I opted to stay close to home: the Run Turkey Run 5K, not ten minutes away.

Couldn’t be easier.

I opted to pick up our packets the day before at a local sporting goods store. Since this race is small and there is a shirt cut off, I wanted to make sure we got our preferred sizes. It wasn’t terribly out of the way either.

The 5K was scheduled to start at 7:30 AM, with a fun run following at 8:30. Little man wasn’t interested in 3.1 miles, so I asked Mr PugRunner if we would mind driving him over around 8:00. The course is open and the field is fairly small, so he would have no problem parking for a few, passing little man to me and then heading home to put our turkey on the Big Green Egg.

This also meant that when the RD put out the call for volunteers, I was able to offer my time prior to the event.

I arrived right at 6:00 AM, layered up against the cold. I was assigned with another volunteer to packet pickup, but while we were waiting for the crowds to show, we worked on unwrapping the medals. It’s always amazing how much work goes into the set up and preparation: the medals were spinners so in addition to the plastic packing bag, they were also wrapped in a tight cling film. This was near impossible to remove while wearing gloves, and my fingers were quite numb when I relinquished my spot to the next round of helpers.

We got all the shirts and bibs passed out and when it came down to just new registrants, I was released to hit the portapotties and strip off my outside layers. I chose to run in a tank and shorts with gloves. It was sunny and once I get moving, I tend to get super hot. Since the temps were going to be low 50s, I thought I could get away with it.

Plus, I wanted to show off my Raw Threads turkey tank. Yes, I can admit that.

I knew the race was gun timed, but I didn’t really take too much time choosing my spot. I positioned myself in the middle of the runners, just like always, and figured I would do my best to cross the start line quickly.

Run Turkey Run is a fairly easy out-and-back course in one of our huge golf resort communities. The course is open to traffic, but one lane in each direction is blocked off for runners. There aren’t usually many cars in that area anyway, especially not first thing on a holiday morning, so safety was not a concern in the least.

There was one water stop located at about mile 1.25, offering cups to runners going and returning.

It was cold but sunny. I did warm up enough to remove one glove, but not the other (Raynaud’s can be fickle sometimes).

I had a nice kick at the end and finished in my fastest 5K time in FOREVER. I even ran faster than last year’s Turkey Trot (in the pouring rain at a different location). It was just the boost I needed.

Mr PugRunner and little man were waiting at the finish line and we did the handoff after I got my medal.

In addition to bottles of water, the race handed out Cranberry Sparklers: cranberry juice, ginger ale and champagne. It was better than beer or mimosas and I quite enjoyed mine!

At 8:30, the kiddos lined up for their run. Little man wanted to go by himself, so I stood back to wait for him at the finish.

He came through strong!

There were a few hiccups with the updating of results, so we hung around for a little while until things came through. I ended up placing much better than I imagined, and it really was just the cherry on the top of the day.

It was a great way to start our Thanksgiving. I loved being able to help out, run and be home in plenty of time to clean up and cook for our guests.

Did you Turkey Trot or Gobble Til You Wobbled?
Cocktails after a race… yay or nay?

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promenade the alcazar at the lightner museum

Posted on November 28, 2018 by runswithpugs

As a social media influencer for this event through FlipperSplash, I received one complimentary Promenade the Alcazar ticket for my promotion of the event.

The city of St. Augustine holds the distinction of being the oldest in the nation, at just 453 year young. Founded in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, this historic city is a rich and beautiful patchwork of worn cobblestones, imposing forts, lovely shops and majestic towers.

In the heart of the city is the site of the Alcazar Hotel, a luxury lodging built in 1888 by Henry Flagler. The hotel boasted the world’s largest indoor swimming pool of its day, a grand ballroom, steam room, sulfur baths, massage parlor, gymnasium, bowling alley, tennis courts, archery ranges and bicycle academy. The Alcazar welcomed over 25,000 guests during its years.

Today, the hotel is home to the Lightner Museum, which holds one of the top collection of 19th Century art, representative of those golden years.

This year, the Promenade the Alcazar event celebrated the 130th Anniversary of the Alcazar Hotel and the 70th Anniversary of the Lightner Museum. It proved to be a stunning showcase of the historic building, the collections and the local, art-loving community.

Prior to Promenade the Alcazar, the Museum opened its doors for a VIP Media Tour. This was my first visit to the Museum in all the years I’ve lived here, and I had no idea what to expect.

The staff was very excited about the upcoming gala, and was so thrilled to share some of their ideas with us.

The party would flow throughout the building, with food and wine stations in different rooms. There would also be small games in some of the different notable areas of the Museum, to encourage guests to engage a bit more with the art.

We also got a peek at the third floor, part of one of the guided tours. The first things visitors get to see is a preserved staff and guest room, both considered quite spacious for the day.

Collection pieces are also stored and sorted up here, and everyone was very pleased to discuss upgrades made to the storage system that would allow them to take on more exhibits as time passes. Guests wore white cotton gloves, and were treated to a gentle handle of some of the miniatures being catalogued.

The night of the gala arrived, and I was ready for a beautiful evening.

The evening started with music by The Raisin Cake Orchestra in the courtyard. These gardens are stunning on their own, but the addition of the instrumentals elevated them to the next level.

Upon entering the museum foyer, we were treated to flutes of champagne and offered a time for the Upstairs Tour.

I loved the opportunity for a second look, and was even able to get a closer peek at some of the stunning stained glass pieces that are waiting for their new exhibit area to be ready.

After the tour, we were free to wander through the rooms and take part in some of the games. Guests had a passport to fill in upon successful completion of each activity and I enjoyed chatting with the different staff members stationed around the party.

In the porcelain room, for example, we were  invited us to find a statuette to fit the description on cards we selected from a deck.

In the steam room area, we spun a wheel and “won” an ailment. Mine was insomnia, and I was shown how such a case would be treated back in the day: it involved laying for hours at a time in a warm bath, wrapped in linens, with breaks for bathroom and eating. Not the worst remedy I can imagine.

Throughout were wine and hors d’oeuvres stations, so it was simple to sip and nibble while enjoying the exhibits.

The evening culminated in the Grand Ballroom, which had once been an indoor swimming pool.

It’s an incredible venue for parties and weddings, and we got to see it in full glory with the stylings of Michael Arenella And His Dreamland Orchestra.

One of the final treats of the evening was viewing the “People’s Choice” Award Winner: Elizabeth St. Hilaire’s Coquina Kiss, a collage of hand-painted papers with metallic leaf.

I didn’t want the evening to end.

If you haven’t visited the Lightner Museum, there’s no time like the present. You can even order your tickets online here, and remember St. Johns County residents and Flagler College students get free admission every Sunday with valid ID! With Nights of Lights now going on in Historic Downtown, you can’t ask for a better way to spend the day.

 

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weekly wrap: thanksgiving catch-up

Posted on November 26, 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.

The truth is, I haven’t been keeping current here. It’s not that I don’t want to. I do. I have so much content swirling in my head, and I need to get it out However, it’s the holiday season and with recovering from that terrible bout of sinuses and hosting Thanksgiving and houseguests, it just didn’t happen as planned.

And that’s ok.

We are finally back home and chilling out in PJs, snuggling with the pugs and watching some football and holiday movies. It’s how things should be.

But let’s check back over the last two weeks and see how things shaped up.

Sunday 11/11 – rest

Sunday was a family day. We did our cleaning and our errands and then little man wanted to go to the beach to use his metal detector. He didn’t find anything, other than a few coins I “hid” wbile he wasn’t looking, but it was just lovely being out in the fresh air.

We got lunch at Smoked. Southern BBQ, and he tore into some ribs. I didn’t even know he loved ribs, but apparently, they are his new favorite.

Monday 11/12 – 6.2 miles, running

We had the day off school for Veteran’s Day. I started the morning with a run, remembering to be thankful for all those who have served our country.

Tuesday 11/13 – rest

There was a Veteran’s breakfast at our school. It included a musical performance, a meal, and lots of pictures and thank you cards from the students. It was very sweet, and the attendees really loved it. It’s always so nice to be able to be part of moments like this.

In the evening, we had a school spirit night at a local restaurant. Instead of cooking, students and their families can visit the restaurant and a portion of the earning go back to the school at the end of the evening. We celebrated one of our friends’ birthdays while we were there, and even got some cute face paintings from the artist there.

Wednesday 11/14 – 6 miles, running

Another six mile run. The cooler weather has been making it easier, especially with the remnants of my drainage.

Thursday 11/15 – rest

I spent most of the day at the school on Thursday, helping the cafe serve Thanksgiving lunch to students and their parents. It’s not a difficult job, but it is very hands on, so my day was pretty absorbed with the task.

Mr PugRunner picked up little man from school so they could go for the final fitting for their wedding suits. While they handled that task, I went to our Pack Meeting, which was focused on another round of awards for the Scouts and last-campout details.

Friday 11/16 – 6 miles, running

I knew I wouldn’t be able to run while at the Scout campout, so I got in my six miles later in the morning.

I packed up the car, snagged little man from school, picked up his buddy and we headed off to the camp. The time change made setup extra annoying: it was pretty dark and we had to scramble to get our tents up while we could still see.

As a help to some friends, I was responsible for a couple of extra Scouts for the weekend. On the plus side, this meant I got my own tent, while the kids shared nearby. We still had to bundle up because the temperatures dropped dramatically. I thought I would never be warm again.

Saturday 11/17 – rest

Saturdays are the big day at camp. After breakfast (provided by our Pack), our Pack headed out to complete all the tasks on our schedule. We had BB Guns (little man hit four bullseyes!) and archery in the morning. After lunch, there were arts and crafts, followed by gaga ball and capture the flag, and then the kids went to the obstacle course.

After dinner, we moved off to the counsel fire area, for skits, songs and chants. Awards were also announced, and our Pack earned the Honor Pack (participated in all the weekend events), took 2nd place in the Scavenger Hunt and won 1st Place for Best Campsite. All our hard work paid off. Now that it was dark, Scouts had the choice to return to their camps, go trick or treating through the different campsites or hit the Haunted Trail. Little man went with some other parents (I’m a big chicken), and I have no shame in saying we crashed fairly early.

Sunday 11/18 – rest

I was up super early to start breaking down. I had little man and a different friend to drive home, and then we had to get ready for that evening’s wedding! Gah!

Everything was super damp, so I just chucked it in the car (Mr PugRunner is incredibly particular about how our gear is packed so he preferred it all open anyway), and hit the road. I think we were all just ready to be warm and showered.

Since Mr PugRunner was a groomsman, they needed to leave about two hours before me, which gave me plenty of time to veg on the couch. I carpooled with one of my neighbors, so that our family would only have one car downtown, and we spent the rest of the evening enjoying a beautiful wedding.

Little man was adorable in his suit. This was his first “formal” wedding and he loved the music and the dancing. And the passed hors d’oeuvres.

We stayed til the end to take the groom’s son home, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to fall into bed.

Monday 11/19 – rest

The saving grace of this week was that we only had two days of school, due to Thanksgiving. I know little man was tired from his weekend, but they weren’t doing much of anything, so I encouraged him to power through the resources and the movies.

That evening, our friend’s mom came to sit with him, while we went to a VIP Media Tour for the Nights of Lights in our historic downtown. Every year, St. Augustine puts up one of the most stunning holiday light displays in the country. Visitors come from all over to partake of the festivities, which last from right before Thanksgiving until the middle of January.

For this particular event, we enjoyed some food and drink from Casa Monica, Colonial Quarter, St. Augustine Distillery and the San Sebastian Winery, with some live music on the Colonial Oak Stage.

Afterwards, we took a little walk to the Old Town Trolleys waiting for us. During Nights of Lights, the regular trolleys convert to “Holly Jolly Trolleys“, and guests can take a tour of the city, singing festive carols and checking out the sights with special 3D glasses, that transform the existing lights into something just a little more special.

This is a must-do tour for locals and visitors alike.

Tuesday 11/20 – 4 miles, running

I went out alone for a quick four miles. It was rough after the late Monday, but I needed to get it done.

It was great picking up little man from school and knowing we were free for the next five days!

Wednesday 11/21 – 6.2 miles, running

S and I headed out for some early morning miles before the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving really kicked in.

Obviously, I was off to a bit of a rough start with my non matching socks.

Whoops.

Little man had a morning playdate, and then his family joined up to see The Crimes of Grindelwald at the movies. We wrapped up with a pizza dinner and hit the hay.

Thursday 11/22 – Run Turkey Run 5K

Thanksgiving started early. Mr PugRunner has taken over the turkey with his Big Green Egg, so I was pretty much free to run the local Run Turkey Run 5K. in addition, I agreed to volunteer prior to race time, so I arrived at the venue about 90 minutes early to help unwrap medals and hand out packets.

The race was awesome, and I will follow up with a recap this week.

And then, it was time for the main event. I got home and the rest of the cooking began. We ended up hosting 11 people for the big day, including my college roommate and her family. It was so phenomenal that I managed to take almost no photos!

I got one to commemorate the lovely turkey.

And one of little man with his grandparents.

Friday 11/23 – rest

Friday was a driving day. After we got the house somewhat in order and settled the pugs, we hit the road, about an hour behind our friends. We would follow them down to their house and spend the  next two nights with them.

Saturday 11/24 – rest

We were able to sleep in a wee little bit, but then it was time to get ready for the tailgating. The weather was absolutely perfect: breezy and overcast.

Kickoff was at 3:30PM, and we had seats 10 rows off the field in the end zone. It was a great view, and we were thrilled to watch the Hurricanes score a win!

 

Not a powerhouse two weeks, and I really do miss the gym. I had been making a lot of progress there, and being sick and sidelined really threw that off.

This week is going to be full of obligations, so I will do my best to squeeze in runs and workouts as much as I can. I have another race planned for December, and I’m feeling very hopeful about that, too.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have been thankful for so much this year, including this community, and I am looking forward to seeing what the months leading to 2019 will bring.

How was your week in workouts?

Did you celebrate Thanksgiving?

 

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race report: evergreen pumpkin run 10 miler {10.28.18}

Posted on November 15, 2018 by runswithpugs

Hoo boy, did I ever waffle about this race. It’s the race I’ve always wanted to love, but for some reason, it’s gotten in my head.

The Evergreen Pumpkin Run offers a 10 mile and 5K option, both routes winding through the historic Evergreen Cemetery. The paths are lined with hundreds of pumpkins, which runners are welcome to take after they finish.

It’s a beautiful run, with an interesting and scenic backdrop. For me, the weather is usually a factor, but this year, it promised to be cool with low humidity, and I figured since S and I both needed the miles and we were both available, why not give it another shot.

We arrived early in order to get a close-ish parking spot. Since we had opted for on-site packet pickup, we needed to park, walk all the way to check-in for our bibs and shirts, then back to the car and back to the race start (and bathrooms), it’s fairly critical to be there in advance. What we didn’t realize was that there was a new course, which meant that there were fewer spots than before due to road closures, and we managed to snag one of the last good ones.

Whew.

We easily completed the boring details and hopped on line to wait for a portapotty. It always seems like there are so many runners and not enough bathrooms, but we had gotten on the queue in enough time to go and make it comfortably to the start line.

Miles 1 -3

The first three miles (give or take) follow a route through the actual cemetery. It’s really quite lovely and shaded with huge trees.

It can be crowded for those first miles, just because the 5K and 10 mile runners all head out together at the same time, but it clears up fairly quickly. The first three miles are always the easiest: it’s generally cooler under the trees, and there’s a lot of excitement with all the runners. It was one of the stronger starts I’ve had for this particular event.

Miles 3-7

In the past, the middle miles were comprised of two out and backs alongside and then perpendicular to the cemetery. At some point, in the years since I’ve run this race, things have changed to just one out and back. While this part of the course isn’t particularly interesting, I liked it so much better than in the past. After making the turnaround, runners knew they were headed back to the final miles and it felt fabulous to not have to strike out on another straightaway. There was one water stop about halfway through this portion of the race, which could be accessed from both sides and was staffed by some enthusiastic cheerleaders.

Miles 7-10

The final three miles are a repeat of the first three. By the time of the morning, it was definitely warmer, but it still wasn’t too hot, too humid or too sunny. I was tired, but mostly because I had forgotten to bring fuel (and there was none on the course. boo.). S is a great running and race buddy though, because we get to chatting so much and so intently that we almost forget we are running. S was also on the lookout for the grave sites of some of her relatives, so it kept us focused on pretty much everything but the growing discomfort.

And then finally, we reached the finish line! I was extra glad because I don’t think I’ve ever felt so great after finishing this particular race. It wasn’t the fastest, for sure, but I did feel good, and that has to count for something.

We did take a pass on the pumpkins (we were hungry and wanted to get something to eat), but we were just as thrilled with our awesome new bling!

Have you ever raced in a cemetery?

What do you do if you forget your fuel and none is available? 

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weekly wrap: 11.4.18 – 11.10.18

Posted on November 12, 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 – rest
Tuesday – rest
Wednesday – 5.5 miles, running
Thursday –High Fitness hybrid workout
Friday – rest
Saturday – 6 miles, running

Well, as you can probably see, there was pretty much zero fitness this week. While I was not sick in the contagious sense, I am certainly suffering the effects of sinuses run amok. My days will start strong, but by noon, I am all wrung out. It’s frustrating and annoying, just because we, as per usual, have so much on the schedule.

That being said, the mature thing to do is rest. Unfortunately, some things went down this week that led to extreme anxiety and stress on my part, and not having my coping mechanism made things a little more difficult.

Sunday – rest

I had planned on 11 miles, but obviously with the fever the day before, that wasn’t even remotely a good idea. I pretty much parked it on the couch and watched football for the whole day.

Monday – rest

Mr PugRunner was very helpful in getting everything done in the mornings to help get little man out the door for school. I was much more slow moving this week than usual, so it was good to have someone step in as backup.

That being said, I was pretty frustrated with not being at the top of my game and spent the entire morning purging the kitchen. I cleared out tons of junk and it felt amazing.

Tuesday – rest

Election Day! We had talked with little man quite a bit about the importance of voting, especially with such important races in Florida. I really wanted to take him with me to the polls, but I wasn’t able to get out of bed early enough to go before school, and he had chorus practice after, so that was a bit of a bummer.

When he got home, he asked if he could help me make dinner (isn’t his shirt the best?)

Quite frankly, he did most of this chicken noodle soup, and it was pretty darn delicious. He’s going to have to do some more cooking around here.

And even if he didn’t make it to vote with me, he did dress for the occasion.

Wednesday – 5.5 miles, running

I was feeling decent enough that I could get up and head out. I also had these beautiful new shoes (Brooks Adrenaline GTS18) that came on Friday that I hadn’t been able to try. Five and half miles wasn’t setting any records, but it felt amazing to sweat out some of the stresses and toxins.

Unfortunately, I did pay for it the rest of the day, and turned in early.

Thursday – rest

It was a rest day, but there was still plenty to do. I had to get ready for Cub Scouts and then we had a planning meeting for the annual Mother Son Glow Party at school. It’s going to be a crazy good time, but bittersweet, as it will be the last mother son event of elementary school.

We had a great Scouts meeting, too. At this point, the kids are taking on more and more responsibility, and it’s great to see them grow.

The good day turned bad when I got home. Runs With Pugs had been hacked. And broken. Fantastic. I was really just at the end of my rope at this point, but after a few hours on the phone, and some great support from GoDaddy, we had a plan in place to rid the site of the White Screen of Death.

Friday – High Fitness hybrid

Friday was the school’s Vocabulary Parade. Every student takes a vocabulary word and dresses up in a costume to represent that word. It’s so awesome and there are some ridiculously creative costumes out there. The fifth graders were allowed to choose any science or social studies term, so little man picked “magnesium.”

I didn’t feel like I should go to the gym, so I cobbled together a workout based on some High Fitness kind of cardio videos I found on YouTube. Absolutely not as awesome as the class, but it got my heart pumping.

Of course, after that, I was done. Mr PugRunner wanted to go to the movies, but I was mostly interested in sitting on the couch instead. Womp womp.

Saturday – 6 miles, running

I finally dragged my butt out for a run. It felt good, even if it was slow and I took some extended walk breaks. I started listening to the Dirty John podcast (I had already read the newspaper series, and the Bravo special is starting soon, I figured I would treat myself to a refresher of the material).

In the afternoon, we attended a memorial for my friend and fellow Scout Leader who had passed. It was a beautiful day at a local beach park. Members of our pack joined with family members to share memories, hugs, laughs and some tears, and we all received a memorial patch with his initials. He was a chef, and had done so much of the pack’s grilling, so we had a plaque made to go on the grill in his honor. It was hard, but it was also very helpful to have that closure.

I also loved that the kids got a few hours to run in the fresh air and climb all the trees. There are few things cooler than kids just running around and playing.

 

And so another week closes. I want to be excited about the upcoming holidays, but I confess to being a little overwhelmed. I am sitting back to compartmentalize as best I can so that we can all make it through.

I have 107 miles left to run for the year, and I think I should be able to complete that fairly easily, even though the holidays are here. I think I have decided to take on the DONNA 1/2 Marathon, especially because the new course promises to be flatter and faster, and maybe, just maybe I can find something convenient in another state. I am completely open to suggestions.

Runs With Pugs is back, too! GoDaddy was hugely helpful (and kind and sympathetic as well). They got me up and running (and updated) within 72 hours, and gave me some great advice for some future hosting purchases, as well.

Next up? Camping, a wedding and Thanksgiving. I have a 5K on Thanksgiving morning, and I am excited for this one!

How was your week in training?

Any advice for a great spring half marathon? Could be in Florida but I can also travel.

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race report: run for the warriors 5k {10.14.2018}

Posted on November 7, 2018 by runswithpugs

When Mr PugRunner made the arrangements to go to San Francisco, he knew that I was definitely going to want to run a race there. It was a little frustrating because there were several races in the area, but none that were in walking distance, and all would require a fairly lengthy Uber ride.

I also kind of wanted a medal to commemorate racing in my seventh state.

Mr PugRunner let me know that his conference was actually sponsoring the Run for the Warriors 5K, and while there was no associated bling, transportation was provided to the venue, and let’s face it: the cause was beyond worthy (running in honor of wounded and fallen servicepeople).

We registered a week before we boarded our flight to the West Coast.

Packet pickup was held during check in at the conference. It was a bit of a mess, through no fault of the race organization – the fire alarms went off just as we reached the table, and we all had to evacuate and remain outside until we got the all-clear. Fortunately, it was just a false alarm, and we were able to proceed to get our bibs.

We also scored t-shirts. Since we had signed up on the later side, we weren’t guaranteed them, but when we collected our things, they had plenty of sizes still available. Yay!

Per the race instructions, we were to meet at a hotel just a few blocks from ours for the 6:00 AM bus on race day. It was nice to have transportation provided and gave us a warm place to hang out before we had to unload into the park where the start line was set up.

There were a few vendor tents , and since we were in a park, there was access to real restrooms, which was nice.

As the start time approached, the organizers spoke about their gratitude to everyone running and volunteering, as well as the Run for the Warriors organization. There was a grassy area in the starting area that was fun of small flags, and we were all asked to select one with which to run. Each flag was labeled with the name of a fallen soldier, and by running with those flags, we were helping to honor their sacrifice.

It was a very meaningful gesture.

In a lot of ways, the race was very low-frills: no medal, no chip-timing, very small field. However, those are things that end of taking away from the bottom line of donations, so it’s understandable. What they did have was a flat, well-marked and well-attended course. There were plenty of directional arrows and volunteers guiding the way for the 5k and the one mile routes.

The weather was lovely, and we ran past AT&T Park, along the water, before making a u-turn for the return trip. It was a lovely run with beautiful views, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Mr PugRunner and I ran separately, so when I crossed the finish line, I grabbed some goodies (they had yummy snacks: cookies and cheez-its and granola bars) and sat down to wait for him to come through.

The busses were lined up, waiting to shuttle us back to our hotels, and that was a wrap to our race morning.

It was definitely a different experience. The field was small but crazy fast (everyone seems to run fast in San Francisco), and it’s always interesting not to recognize at least one person at a race. However, it was a solid race, and I was very happy to support the Hope for the Warriors organization.

Do you ever race in other states?

What are some factors that make a race great for you?

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weekly wrap: 10.28.18 – 11.3.18

Posted on November 5, 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 – Evergreen Pumpkin Run, 10 miles, running
Monday – rest
Tuesday – 5.5 miles + back/arms
Wednesday – rest
Thursday –1.62 miles, treadmill running + squat session
Friday – 6 miles, running
Saturday – rest

Things calmed down this week. Not a ton, but enough to get a little breather.

Sunday – Evergreen Pumpkin Run, 10 miles running

S and I registered for the Evergreen Pumpkin Run, a 10 mile race that takes place in one of the oldest cemeteries in Jacksonville. It’s a really, really fabulous event, but for whatever reason, it does not agree with me. However, we needed the miles, so we went for it.

 

Afterwards, we visited the graves of some of her family members who were buried there.

The rest of the day was just nice and easy. I was definitely feeling the miles in my legs, so I appreciated not having much else to do at home.

Monday – rest

It felt right to take the day off completely. We had a few loose ends to tidy up at the school, so I did my part by getting the donations of canned goods off to the donation drop and then treating myself to a manicure.

Tuesday – 5.5 miles + backs/arms

Hard run in the morning – my legs were still pretty sore, but it also felt great to get out, especially since the weather has been so gorgeous.

I did a little gym time, too.

After homework, little man finished carving his pumpkin. He did it all on his own, off a design of his own creation. It was perfect.

Wednesday – rest

HALLOWEEN!

I really love this particular holiday, and I was excited about the day. First, it was Mad Scientist Day for the 5th graders. They are the only ones allowed to dress up in “costume” in school (it has to be Mad Scientist themed) and they get to spend the whole day doing cool experiments, followed by a pizza lunch.

I got to help mix Ooblek, and then watched the kids make elephant toothpaste and catapults, create explosion in a ziplock bag with vinegar and baking soda, and launch film canister rockets with alka seltzer tablets.

And then we made a huge taco dinner for our friends and went trick or treating.

Thursday – 1.62 miles hill workout, squat session

I was too tired to get up to do a real run, so I settled for a hill workout on the treadmill followed by a squat session with over 200 squats. Ugh.

That evening, we had a Scouts meeting, which went fairly well. We are starting to see some major progress from our Den, which always feels wonderful.

Friday – 6 miles, running

Temperatures heated up a bit, so the morning run was not quite as pleasant. There wasn’t much time to enjoy the feeling, since I had a big PTA meeting that ended up taking up half the day.

When little man got home from school, he had sleepover plans with one of his friends, and we had reservations for dinner. Sunday would be our 12th anniversary, and we were celebrating a little early with a yummy meal at an upscale BBQ joint.

Saturday – rest

The plan was to maybe get up a little earlier, get in some miles and then join the boys for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The reality was that I woke up at 2:00AM with a 101.4 degree fever, and found myself flat out grounded for the day.

Not only did I have to miss the walk, but I also couldn’t go to the girls’ night in to which I had been looking forward for WEEKS. Ugh.

The boys had a great day, though. They had a wonderful time at the walk,

and then they went to a sort of “bachelor party” for a dad friend and his son. Mr PugRunner will be a groomsman in the wedding, so they did a fun day of Dave & Buster’s, Top Golf and an autobahn racing course.

 

And that’s the wrap on the week. I’m a little frustrated that my body is taking matters into its own hands – I really don’t like it when I’m forced to slow up and take stock. I have too much to do to have time for that nonsense. But it is what it is and I just have to roll with it.

How was your week in training?

How was your Halloween?

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weekly wrap: 10.20.18 – 10.27.18

Posted on October 29, 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 + biceps/standing core workout
Tuesday – chest + shoulders
Wednesday – rest
Thursday –rest
Friday – 4 miles, running, total of  steps
Saturday – 24,126 steps

Intentions. Mine were good. Great, even. And then, and then, and then.

Weather. School carnival. Death. When I finally sat down tonight to write this post, all the feels hit at once. It’s like being hit by a truck. Ugh. I haven’t had the luxury of time to  acknowledge my feelings

Sunday – rest

After a busy Friday an dSaturday, Sunday was fairly low-key. I ran some errands and spent the afternoon in my friend’s garage, working on building games for our school’s annual carnival. We put a lot of work into creating really awesome attractions for our carnival, and when you have a lot of people working together, it’s incredibly fun.

Monday – 6 miles, running + biceps/standing core workout

I started the week refreshed and raring to go. We ran, and i t felt great to get back out there.

The gym was great, too. I missed doing weights while I was away, and it felt great to be back at it.

Tuesday – chest/shoulders

The weather was yucky, so some time in the gym again was just what the doctor ordered.

That evening, we had McTeacher Night at our local McDonalds. It’s a really fun night, where teachers and staff members man the drive-thru, fry station and register, and the school families come in to have dinner, with a portion of proceeds going back to the school. I was on raffle ticket duty.

Wednesday – rest

After a very restless night of sleep, I woke to the tragic news that a friend and fellow Scout leader had passed away, quite unexpectedly, at the age of 33. it was really devastating news, and I don’t know if it’s really sunk in, yet.

I was in a daze for most of the day. I couldn’t quite get myself together, and I really struggled with adulting. Fortunately, Mr PugRunner was there to pick up the slack for me, and I am grateful for that.

Thursday – rest

I don’t think I could have run if I wanted to. I wasn’t really in much of a mood to do anything. I worked on some signs for carnival, and headed over to school in the afternoon to help with some finishing touches on some of the games.

Scouts that night was hard. We had an emergency meeting to talk things over amongst the leaders, and then our den took on the 2nd grade den as their leader was out sick. It was a little intimidating to do a lesson for a whole new group of kiddos, but it went pretty smoothly.

Friday – 4 miles, running, total of  32,381 steps

This run was awful, but necessary. I was just not in the right head space, but I needed to move. I was absolutely miserable the whole time, but it got done. My garage was full of hay bales for the weekend’s events.

And then it was time to focus on the school carnival. The weather had not been in our favor, and while temperatures were beautiful, bands of storms had left our activity field a swampy mess. At 10:00 AM, the decision was made to move everything inside and we got to work, organizing games, signs and prizes. Gates opened at 6:00 PM, and it was go go go all day.

The event was a smashing success. We had a few hiccups on the operational end (namely, that an entire group of volunteers didn’t show up), so it felt like we were putting out fires all night. To be honest, I only got a few pictures, although I feel like this one was the most important.

Due to a fabulous, hardworking team, plus the support of our community, the carnival was a smashing success. We were able to get everything cleaned up and put away, and I was in bed by 11:30. Way past my bedtime, but that was ok.

Saturday – rest

I wanted to spend half the day in bed, but I had committed to help out at a local Kids Fest on behalf of St. Augustine Moms Blog. I’ve been contributing content for them for three years, and I love that we are able to provide so many resources to the local moms in our community.

When I had finished there, it was time to help Mr PugRunner with our neighborhood Trunk or Treat. He has been volunteering at the Events Chair for our community, and this was his second big production. Once again, photos were slim, but I did get this adorable one of little man, at our Mad Scientist display.

It was a little too windy to get everything right, but it was cute and we had tons of trick or treaters! All in all, another success!

I had to get to bed because S and I were running a 10 mile race on Sunday morning, as if we didn’t have enough to do!

 

So it was a hard week, for reasons listed here, and due to other horrible events this weekend. Obviously, my focus was on a thousand different things and not at all on how many miles I was running or what my gym time looked like. I tried to do enough to help keep my anxiety in check, to be supportive to those in need and to let the rest of it go. Staying busy was mostly helpful, but I did struggle in some of the quiet moments.

I’m still terribly sad, and it comes on suddenly and hard. I’m grateful for the friends and family who have been there through the tragedies, and I know it will get easier with time.

How was your week in training?

How do you keep yourself moving through the difficult times?

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