weekly wrap: 9.30.18 – 10.6.18

Posted on October 8, 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 – 8 miles, running
Monday – 1.1 mile hill workout + thighs/booty workout
Tuesday – 7 miles, running 
Wednesday – rest
Thursday – 5.5 miles, running + bicep workout
Friday – rest
Saturday – 9 miles, running + High Fitness, 60 minutes

October started strong, and that’s the way I like it. Not saying the week wasn’t challenging: I’ve had a crick in my neck since last weekend. But that’s ok. I’m feeling more positive, more upbeat and ready to take on the world.

Let’s take a look back over my last week.

Sunday – 8 miles, running

Since we bailed on Saturday’s run, we were up for Sunday. The eight miles were ugly and sticky and humid, and I hated every second of it (aside from the company). Ugh.

Mr. PugRunner took little man to get fitted for a suit for an upcoming wedding, and I’m not going to lie. It was the cutest thing pretty much ever.

My parents came over to watch football, little man went to hang out with some friends and that was Sunday. It was just a very nice day.

Monday – 1.1 miles, hill intervals + thigh/booty workout

I had a few things to do around the school, and then I took myself to the gym. We are currently battling a tank top mandate (apparently, wearing tank tops is unsanitary and can lead to the spread of MRSA and ringworm???? To which point, I say don’t come to the gym with ringworm!!! Also, leotards are approved. We are working on fighting this), so I struggled a bit with sleeves. Who knew a neighborhood gym could be such a hotbed of difficulty?

It was a great workout though. I was definitely feeling it in my thighs when I left.

The rest of the day proceeded as usual with school pickup, karate and dinner.

Tuesday – 7 miles, running

I had the time so I ran most of this with S, and then finished up on my own. Tuesdays are a late pick up day, so it was nice to have some time to run errands and get some things done.

I also got to have a lovely coffee date with a dear friend.

Wednesday – rest

Ah, rest day! I thought about going to the gym, but I had to be at the school early to help Safety Patrol sell Spirit Sticks (these really cute little tags that hang from keychains on the kids’ backpacks. They are all the rage and it’s a great fundraiser for our Patrols), followed by a planning meeting for our fall carnival. By the time I got finished with that, I didn’t feel like doing much else.

Thursday – 5.5 miles running + arm workout

I had originally planned to go running Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so I didn’t push the distance this day.

I was at school early to take care of a few things, and then got stuck there due to a big car accident on the only road in. There was a bit of drama: S called to make sure it had not been me in the accident. I had left my phone in the office because I was helping to paint, so didn’t answer. Long story short, poor Mr PugRunner was convinced that little man and I were wrapped up in the mess. Ugh.

I got him calmed down and made my way home as soon as the roads were clear. It was fairly emotionally exhausting so I did my arm workout at the house after he finally left for work.

That night, we had a really cool Scouts meeting. I helped the kids make a battery out of lemons.

I had no idea if it was going to be a success, but the Scouts all worked together and we got the small LED to light up! I think everyone was fairly impressed. Score!

Friday – rest

Friday was a day and a half!

First up, a PTA Board meeting. I left there and zipped off for smoothies with a friend I haven’t seen in months! When that was finished, I picked up Mr PugRunner and we went to lunch with S and her husband.

By that time, I had to get little man from school, and I wasn’t at all sorry to get home and park it on the couch. Yay.

Saturday – 9 miles, running + High Fitness class

I didn’t want to do both these things but I also can’t say no to L when she asks me to go to High Fitness. It’s just so fun.

S and I headed out on our nine mile long run and we were both thrilled that it wasn’t quite as hot as it’s been. In fact, it was a pleasant run and I was thrilled to see it reflected in the pace.

I absolutely also loved the High Fitness class. I confess to dragging a little toward the end, but I didn’t take any of the modifications, so that was a total win.

From there, I had to pick up supplies for little man’s project on the Innuit and then I rushed back home so we could make it to the kick off of the Miami/FSU game with the local chapter of the Hurricanes Club.

Man, it was a rough one, but we pulled off the win, finally. We had a great time with my parents, some friends, and other Canes fans.

 

Not a bad way to start October, right? A lot of great things are coming up, and I can’t wait to share them all here! Halloween is almost here, and I need to get moving on the decorating for all the festivities to come!

How was your week in training?

Do you prefer watching games at home or out at sports bars if you can’t be at the game?

 

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celebrate the non-scale victories

Posted on October 5, 2018 by runswithpugs

We don’t have a scale.

I don’t weigh myself, or my food. I don’t count calories. The only numbers and data I track are my miles and hours in the gym (and even then, I don’t count those hours consistently).

For one thing, numbers and I are not compatible. For the other, I don’t like when my focus gets too narrow. If I’m hung up on the numbers on the scale, then I tend to forget about all the awesome things I am accomplishing outside that scope.

I don’t know if I’m losing pounds or inches, but I do know that things have changed (for the better). So what are these non-scale victories?

Confidence.

Regardless of weight or jeans size, staying active and logging hours on the road or at the gym have given me confidence I’ve never had before. I stand taller, hold my head higher and tend to put myself out there a bit more. It’s empowering to be proud of yourself just for being you. More of us should be.

I Can Eat What I Want.

It’s true that you can’t outrun your fork, but if you’ve committed to a regular fitness regime, you generally don’t have to worry about it as much. We eat well at home (vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and the like), but when I want to indulge a foodie tendency or ice cream craving (because ice cream is my Kryptonite), it’s not too much of a concern.

A Heightened Sense of Adventure.

In the past, if someone suggested trying a new activity, I would absolutely be the first to say no. I would be so embarrassed by the idea of failing, making a fool of myself or just simply not being able to do whatever was suggested. I missed out on so much. Now, with my newfound confidence, I jump at the chance to try something new and out of the box. Bring on the hiking/rock climbing/zip lining/white water rafting/aerial yoga/whatever you have to throw at me. I’m game.

I’m Stronger.

Strong is where it’s at, and thanks to all the running and lifting, I’m stronger than I ever used to be. I can see it in the new muscles that have developed, in the weight of things I can lift, and I can feel it in my energy levels and in the things I can do. I love knowing that I can do hard things and that I’m “charged” for so much longer.

I Need A New Wardrobe.

This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s fantastic to have clothes fit better or be too large. On the other, it can get pricey to have to purchase a new wardrobe. I have reached a point where none of my current clothes fit me, so it was off to the store. I had to make two trips to the fitting room because the first round of items I grabbed was still too big. Whoops. Even more cool is that due to this new confidence, I am more willing to try on things I wouldn’t ordinarily have in the past, and am finding lots of fun, new things.

 

Do you use a scale or other means to measure your fitness goals and results?

What non scale victories do you celebrate?

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it happens anywhere

Posted on October 3, 2018 by runswithpugs

I’ve taken my time with this post because I didn’t know how to write it. I struggled most of last week, both with the situation and with if and how I should share it.  What it comes down to is that it’s important to know that we can’t take our safety for granted, and always have to be the most active of participants in our own protection.

I follow “the rules.”

I don’t go running by myself without letting at least one person know where I am and when I’ll be back.

If I’m alone, I keep my headphones off or low enough that I can clearly hear around me. I listen for footsteps or cars.

I make eye contact.

I rely on my height and my build, standing tall and “making myself large,” as if I’m dealing with grizzly bears and not random people I pass on the sidewalk.

Stay aware. Be alert. Don’t look lost. Don’t make yourself a target. Know your exit strategy. Because that’s what you’ve been taught, what you’ve learned.

Because that’s what you do.

Those are the rules.

But even when you do those things, when you play by those rules, someone can walk up to you in broad daylight, insert themselves into your space, and make uninvited, unwanted contact without batting an eye. And you’re left wondering what the hell just happened and trying to shrug off the slimy, icky film that now seems to cling to you.

When our community gym opened, we had the option to fill out a waiver for extended hours. Mr PugRunner took care of it, and reported that I could now get in those early morning workouts if I wanted.

I had checked out the area while on one of my pre-dawn runs, however, and I wasn’t sure I felt confident about security. Not enough flood lights. Locks and doors not quite substantial enough. No big windows open to the road. In short: should things happen to go sideways, there would be no one to see me in distress and no one to hear me scream.

He looked at me  funny, but said nothing. He’s used to my little idiosyncrasies after almost 12 years of marriage, and the conversation was over. Daytime gym time, here we come.

Things were great. Sometimes I was alone. Sometimes I worked out alongside people I knew and sometimes alongside strangers. I was always pleasant, said “hello” and “have a nice day”, and was careful not to hoard equipment.

But even with that, in spite of it, I found myself in a position of vulnerability. Minding my own business, running on the treadmill.

At which point, a person who I have only seen a handful of times, with whom I have exchanged the most superficial of words, whose name I do not even know, came right up to the left side of my treadmill and wrapped his arm around behind me. In a hug? His arm or hand made contact with my lower back and hip and I remember kind of wiggle stepping away on the moving belt because I was sweating and, like most people, prefer not to be touched when sweating.

I prefer not to be touched by people I don’t know at all.

I should have said something. I should have called him out and told him to keep his hands to himself. But then I thought maybe I had it all wrong. No one else batted an eye (the man had a companion with him). Maybe I was being dramatic. Maybe he was just trying to be friendly. Maybe it was all an innocent misunderstanding. Maybe it wasn’t.

For the rest of the day, I second guessed. I was embarrassed that I was bothered by this seemingly small and meaningless gesture, and angry for not standing up for myself. Absurdly, I blamed myself for putting myself in a position where this could happen, then went over the things I could have done differently, then raged that I couldn’t even go for a run without having to be on my guard.

I’m ok. I am. I’m disappointed in myself for not being stronger but I know better for next time. I have been back to the gym twice since that incident, but I went at a different time to minimize the chance of running into him and I wasn’t sorry to take a few days off due to other obligations. I need to get back on that horse, though. The longer I wait, the harder it will be.

I am entitled to be in that space, without worrying about that space being invaded by anyone. We are all entitled to that. My guard is up, now, and I will be sure to keep myself from being in that same position again.

What are the extra methods you employ to keep yourself safe?

Have you ever had an unwanted or unpleasant encounter while working out? How did you deal with it?

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weekly wrap: 9.23.18 – 9.29.18

Posted on October 1, 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 – 1.6 mile hill workout + strength training
Tuesday – 5.5 miles treadmill, running + strength training
Wednesday – 10:00 elliptical + strength training
Thursday – 6.3 miles, running 
Friday – rest
Saturday – rest

Things this week were mostly better. We got the results of Delilah’s EKG and found out that she is borderline for hypothyroidism. Because of her low heart rate, the vet and endocrinologist want to hold off on medication to see if losing weight helps her out any. She is already down a pound, so that’s great news.

Additionally, we had some positive luck and good things happening, which was certainly encouraging in the midst of everything else.

Sunday – rest

Sunday started out with a fantastic surprise: tickets to the Jaguars game. It was super crazy last minute, but we were able to get it together, collect one of Aiden’s buddies and make it in time for kick off.

It was miserably hot out, but the kids had such a great time. We watched part of the first quarter and the end of the last quarter, and then spent the rest of the time in the viewing areas in the shaded, more air-conditioned areas of the stadium.

The kids held up beautifully: we enjoyed some of the yummy food,

and I was incredibly excited to get this teal Mr Softee ice cream in a helmet with teal and black sprinkles. Heaven.

They also both won grand prizes from the $10-a-spin prize wheel: little man scored two tickets to the zoo and his friend selected a Riddell mini helmet. They couldn’t have been happier.

Monday – 1.6 miles, treadmill, hill intervals + strength training

After dropping little man at school, I hit up the gym for some hills and strength training. Each time I go to the gym, I try to work out a different sets of muscles. Sometimes I use free weights, sometimes the machines and sometimes I rely on body weight It just depends on how I’m feeling and what I’m hoping to accomplish that day. It’s been working.

When I picked little man up from Safety Patrol, he couldn’t wait to tell me that he won two tickets to the Harlem Wizards vs local teachers that week. He had been asking to go but he entered a raffle at school and his name was selected. He was thrilled!

Tuesday – 5 miles, treadmill 

I was planning on a morning run, but the minute I started to get out of bed, the heavens opened. Boo. So it was back to sleep for a few hours.

Running lots of miles on the mill was a bit of a struggle so I cut it off at five. I followed it up with some crunches and core work, which was a nice way to balance everything out.

Wednesday – 15:00 elliptical + strength training

I wasn’t feeling up to getting back on the treadmill after an incident that occurred on Tuesday (I’ve made the decision to blog about it, so look for that post on Wednesday), so instead I made another attempt at the elliptical. Would you know, I was finally able to make my body move in the proper way, and got in a really solid 15 minutes.

Then it was on to a really nice leg workout, with lots of squats, lunges and some wall sits.

I had a lunch meeting with one of my editors, which was extremely productive. Especially because we got to eat some yummy food at Treylor Park.

Little man could not wait to get to the Wizards game. He was absolutely climbing the walls with excitement and I was so glad that he and Mr PugRunner were going to have a nice night together. He got to see two of his school’s teachers play again the Wizards, who were engaging in all their tricks and fancy maneuvers. He got some player autographs on his jersey and hung out with some of his buddies, too.

It was definitely a special treat to be out late on a school night, but he has been working hard and deserved it.

Thursday – 6.3 miles, running

Thursday was a packed day. First up, a muggy run.

Then drop off and tons of errands. I needed some supplies for a potential Scouts project and some new clothes. I’ve found that things aren’t fitting me anymore, and I needed a new business professional type outfit for a media event on Friday.

Mr PugRunner and I met my parents for lunch, which was a nice break.

We got $1 pizza slices prior to the Scouts meeting, and we were fortunate enough to meet up with some of ours and little man’s friends while there. I love it when the timing just works out.

Friday – rest

Little man called me into the main hallway on our way into the school to show me the mural his art teacher created out of hundreds of feathers decorated by his school mates. It was absolutely stunning.

I was invited to a VIP Media Preview of the Promenade the Alcazar event at the Lightner Museum. This will be the 130th Anniversary of the Alcazar Hotel and 70th Anniversary of the Museum itself.

Guests were treated to a behind the scenes look at the rooms and exhibits to be highlighted at the gala, and I can’t wait to see how everything looks on the big night. It’s going to be stunning.

The curators and staff of the Lightner were delighted to share the collections and visions for the big night.

We were even invited upstairs to see the new storage areas and how items are catalogued. I was thrilled that we were given white curator’s gloves and allowed to handle a piece from a collection of miniature dogs.

It was such an incredible opportunity.

Mr PugRunner and I had a sushi lunch and then I spent the rest of the day getting ready for the weekend.

Saturday – rest

The plan was to go out for a long run with S, but she wasn’t feeling up to it and promised me we could go on Sunday instead. So I took advantage of a little more sleep.

The morning plan was a popcorn show and sell for the Scouts, and we followed that with some shopping, some parties and some time with friends.

I desperately needed some new jeans and tops – I am running out of things that fit me (my current selections are too big), and I am tired of hiking up my jeans and adjusting my tops. I hate clothing shopping, but it’s a necessary evil and I hope I made some decent selections.

 

So it was a better week. A more reasonable week. I went back at the workouts with some enthusiasm, but the end of the week slow down didn’t bother me either.

I ran almost 90 miles in September, which puts me at 788 miles for the year. That means only 212 to go! I can’t believe it! Last year, I ran a grand total of 835.42 miles, and I am closing in on that fast. My goals have been all over the place this year, but my 1000 in 2018 goal is going great.

To that point, I’ve done really well at getting in my cross and strength training. I’m putting in at least three days a week at the gym, sometimes more, and I like how that is going. At least I have that going for me.

For October, I have a few races planned, and I am absolutely looking forward to some fun events and travels. It’s going to be a fabulous month, I just know it.

How was your week in training?

Are you a fan of shopping for new clothes?

 

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weekly wrap: 9.16.18 – 9.22.18

Posted on September 24, 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 – 1.6 mile hill workout + strength training
Tuesday – 5.5 miles, running, 1 mile treadmill running + strength training
Wednesday – rest
Thursday – rest
Friday – rest
Saturday – 6 miles, running + High Fitness aerobics class, 60 minutes

The theme of this week is “derailed.” There just no other way to say it, unfortunately. Ugh.

Sunday – rest

I was able to take a break on Sunday. We did the usual shopping and errands, and then little man had a birthday party. It was a drop off situation, and the mom actually let him stay another 90 minutes or so to play. We spent the evening watching the Jaguars beat the Patriots with our neighbors, and I felt like the week was off to an incredible start.

Monday – 1.6 mile hill workout + strength training

This was the week of our big school fundraiser run, so I was prepared for all kinds of insanity. I did some time in the gym, running hill intervals and working on my legs and glutes.

Otherwise, it was a perfectly quiet and ordinary Monday.

Tuesday – 5.5 miles, running + 1 mile treadmill +strength training

Had a fairly nice run, although it was a little shorter than I would have liked.

However, we had little man’s conference so Mr PugRunner and I both had to be at school bright and early. We had a great report and he is doing very well in 5th grade. His teachers agreed that he is an incredibly pleasant and helpful young man, which made us so happy to hear.

Afterwards, we were off on our separate ways: I went back to the gym to finish another mile of running and do some strength training. Mr PugRunner went to work.

Little man had his first day of after-school chorus, and I am very excited to see his holiday performance.

Wednesday – rest

I woke up at 2:30 AM feeling MISERABLE. My head, neck and lower back ached and I was alternately burning up then freezing. I was fairly convinced I had the flu. I tossed and turned four hours, just trying to get comfortable, and when the alarm finally went off, I told Mr PugRunner that I just couldn’t get myself together. He was quick to to take over.

And I spent most of the day in bed or on the couch. The feverish feeling left, but I was still pretty foggy. I think it was just exhaustion and a day of doing pretty much nothing was hugely helpful. I planned to get up early and get right back on track, but my running buddy and Mr PugRunner both told me I was making a bad choice and to just give myself a break.

Thursday – rest

We had a bit of an upset when Delilah woke up in the middle of the night with breathing issues. Bad breathing issues. Mr PugRunner had gotten her calmed down but she started up again and we agreed she needed immediate treatment, so off to the emergency vet they went.

It was a rough morning – as our youngest pug, we were absolutely not expecting issues with her, as we deal with Molly’s old age and Bentley’s ear and “seizure” episodes. After and IV, X-rays, bloodwork and some time spent in an oxygen crate, she was diagnosed with a collapsing trachea (common to the breed), but would need to be seen by our regular vet. Mr PugRunner made the transfer, and the two professionals worked as a team to find answers.

The X-rays turned up a slight chance of heart enlargement. She was scheduled for an ultrasound on Friday.

Mr PugRunner stayed home with her while I went off to handle my first den meeting of the year. We have several new scouts this year, so it will take a little bit to get in a groove again, but I’m excited.

Friday – rest

It was the day of our annual fundraising run! This is our school’s biggest money-maker and we had been working quite tirelessly to get it together. S and I arrived at 7:00 AM to  get the setup finalized, and by 8:50, we were ready to run.

Besides the heat, it was a wonderful day. Everything ran perfectly smoothly, and the kids had a blast. Mr PugRunner was among the volunteers helping, which was nice, and little man did an awesome job with his laps!

At some point, the bullhorn got handed over to me – I despise public speaking but an MC was needed, so I took over the job for several hours and tried to make the most of it.

I was so happy to get home, get a shower and get some food. We will still need to collect the remainder of our pledges, but so far it seems like it was a very successful fundraiser, so mission accomplished.

On a sidenote: Delilah’s ultrasound came back clear, but she did have to get an EKG. We are still waiting on those results. We are currently treating for a bladder infection and have moved her to a special diet to lose weight. The trachea is what it is. Hopefully that will be the end of it. She’s over it.

Saturday – 6 miles, running + high fitness aerobics class

I wasn’t planning on running, but when I woke up, I really felt the need to stretch my legs, so I went out for six miles. And made a new friend.

Afterwards, I met my friend L at her community fitness center. She had invited me to take part in a High Fitness aerobics class. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but whew. What fun! It was great music, high energy, and felt great. The calorie burn was absolutely insane, and it didn’t even feel like an hour went by. I loved the instructor and would love to take more classes.

The rest of the day was spent just chilling out and watching NCAA football. I didn’t have the energy for much else and it was good to have a break.

 

I did hate that I was knocked on my butt this week. It’s so hard to mentally come back from sickness and exhaustion, and I struggled with telling myself it was ok. I felt like I had been working so hard to be so consistent and then it all went out the window. That being said, I desperately needed a few days of nothing (and quite frankly, with all the running around I did on Friday, it was probably just as effective as an actual workout, so I didn’t miss all that much). Onward and upward is going to be my motto to get me through the rest of this month!

How was your week in training?

Have you ever tried High Fitness?

 

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5 ways to avoid being “that girl (or guy)” at the gym

Posted on September 19, 2018 by runswithpugs

I know. I’m new-ish to the gym scene. My experience level is nowhere near what one might consider high.

In the last few months, our community built and opened a brand new gym. It’s around 1000 square feet and has a serviceable combination of machines and free weights. Membership is included in our HOA fees, and it’s a two minute drive (or five minute jog) to get there.  I’m thrilled to have access to  this brand new and convenient facility  and love taking advantage of equipment I don’t have at home. Cross training has become so much more accessible to me and I’ve felt great about how I’ve stepped things up this month.

With that out of the way, I never expected this to be a post I would need to write. That I would even be qualified to write. But I’ve seen some things in this local, neighborhood gym over the last few weeks, that lead me to believe that people need a refresher course in common sense.

Sharing is NOT caring!

I’m not a germaphobe by any stretch of the imagination, nor am I afraid of little colds or bugs.  I believe in perspiring out toxins and if I’m under the weather, often feel much better after a good sweat session. However, dragging your sick self to the local gym where you proceed to liberally hack all over the equipment in an enclosed space is pretty uncalled for.

If you’re sick but feeling well enough to work out, more power to you, but do it outside in the fresh air or in the privacy of your own home. Skipping a few days until you’re in better health isn’t going to make much difference to you but will make a world of difference to the people who weren’t interested in catching your cough, cold or flu.

Clean the equipment you use!

On the days I have been at the gym with other people, I have noticed a disturbing trend: despite the availability of wipes, NO ONE CLEANS THE EQUIPMENT AFTER USE! I just can’t even understand it.

It’s inevitable that working out will lead to sweating, which leads to some form of bodily fluid getting all over handles, grips, seats, rests and other parts of the machines and equipment. I didn’t think much of everyone’s clean up routine until the day I noticed the wipes were out. I ended up borrowing wipes from a mom at the adjacent pool to wipe down after myself, and decided to keep a small container of Lysol wipes in my gym bag for emergencies. Imagine my surprise when the next time at the gym, a gentleman asked to share dumbbells and refused the wipe that I offered him.

WHAT???

Of course, now I wipe down everything before and after I use it, but it’s a little disheartening to see people just walk out without regard for the condition in which they leave the space.

Be considerate with your selfies.

Obviously, if you don’t post your gains to the gram, they don’t count, but that doesn’t mean everyone in the room wants to be insta-famous. If you’re going to snap selfies, be discreet and make sure the only subject is you.

Hey, if you happen to be lucky and you’re the only one in your community gym, go crazy with the solo photo shoot and Facebook live feeds, but if the gym is packed, restrain yourself.  Your neighbors will appreciate it. (And I hope it goes without saying that photos should never be taken in a locker room or to shame or mock your fellow gym goers).

This is my dance space. This is your dance space.

Obviously, in a community gym, there’s probably not much empty floor space, so we all have to make the best of it. The current layout is pretty reasonable, and the dumbbells, tension straps and swiss and medicine balls can all be moved to other parts of the gym.

If one person is lifting weights on the incline bench, there is absolutely no reason for a second person to come over and set up shop with the tension bands within six inches of said bench. Grab the bands and a mat and find another part of the floor nearby. I promise you, the first person will be done soon and would rather focus on their lifting form than avoiding elbows and sweat in her space.

Be flexible.

So you get to the gym, ready for sprints on the treadmill, only to find all the units are occupied. Bummer.

With limited equipment, getting shut out of your preferred activity is a frustrating risk. However, there’s no reason to cop an attitude. Instead, warm up on the bike, do some stretching or foam rolling, or even get in a light dumbbell routine while you wait. If you are on the clock, hop on the elliptical instead and come back later. It’s a much more productive way of spending your time and some workout is better than no workout.

On the flip side, if you are working out and notice the gym is busy, try not to hoard equipment. It’s unreasonable to expect to reserve the treadmill between squat reps when other people want to use it. Work through one machine or station at a time, even if it means your order of routine is altered. It’s just the considerate thing to do.

And did I mention, wipe down your equipment when you’re finished?

What bad behaviors have you experienced from fellow gym goers?

What are your gym pet peeves?

 

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weekly wrap: 9.9.18 – 9.15.18

Posted on September 16, 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 –8 miles, running
Monday – back + bicep workout
Tuesday – 6.25 miles, running + leg/glute workout
Wednesday – 1.5 miles, running (hill intervals) + shoulders/standing core workout
Thursday – 5.9 miles, running
Friday – rest
Saturday – 8 miles, running

I feel like every time I say things are going to settle, they just don’t, so obviously, I need to stop saying that. It’s not working well for me.

Sunday – 8 miles, running

I took off on a somewhat later solo run. And I managed to get to 8 miles, even though the sun did its worst. I was ok with the tradeoff of getting a little extra snooze in.

While out there, I had a huge craving for a lobster roll and when I got home, asked Mr PugRunner if he would be down for it. Cousins Maine Lobster had opened in the vicinity and all the photos on IG looked so delicious. Bonus: it was a business featured on Shark Tank, which is Mr PugRunner’s favorite.

My meal was phenomenal and I can’t wait to go back to try the bisque. Say yes to the Whoopie Pies.

Monday – back + bicep workout

I was able to get in a fairly rigorous session at the gym. I would have liked to have spent more time on the elliptical (I just used it for a small cool down), but my body just doesn’t seem to move that way.

Tuesday – 6.25 miles running + leg/glute workout

We had a solid morning run as a group.

The humidity is unreal.

I did some writing and editing work during the day and in the afternoon, met up with S so we could stick cups in the fence at school. The glamour is real, friends. Since we are a newer school, we have not yet accumulated things like fence decorations, so we were finally able to get the name of our mascot stuck in the fence.

Living the dream:

Yes, it was burning hot and we were both sweaty messes by the time it was done. However, the fence looks awesome and we now know we are fully qualified to install cup art.

Another bright spot in the day is that Best Damn Race revealed their Jacksonville medals. Check out these beauties! I can’t wait to earn mine! Join me on January 12 and use code RUNPUGS to save $5 on this or any other Best Damn Race city or distance!

Wednesday – 1.5 miles, running (hill intervals) + shoulders/standing core workout

I took to the treadmill for some hill intervals. I don’t love them, but it’s a good workout and a great way to warm up for my strength session.

After that, it was on to the shoulders and my core. I found a workout that encompasses weighted side bends, woodchoppers, core stabilizers and bow and arrow moves, where you never have to even get on the ground. It’s still pretty rigorous and didn’t take very long at all.

S called me from the school and I went up to join her to try inflating our new event arch. We will be able to use it for our fundraiser run, but then also for our carnival and other school events. It’s a bit of a monster, but it’s going to be very impressive on the morning of our event.

Thursday – 5.9 miles, running

Thursday’s run was great, but I had to cut it short – my stomach had had enough and I barely made it home in time. Who’s been there?

Oh, and adding insult to injury – we have a new neighbor. This has been identified as a baby panther, which seems to live under a magnolia tree in a part of the neighborhood that touches a preserve area. It’s a bit unsettling and I hope we don’t bump into him.

It took me a little while to start feeling better, but I probably could have benefited from a bit of a nap. It wasn’t meant to be, as we had more meetings at the school: one with the principal regarding some future plans and one with the PE Coach about our fun run. I love being part of the planning process and I am so hopeful this year is hugely successful.

In the evening, we welcomed our new Scouts and leaders to our Pack. It was nice to meet the new kiddos and their parents. I will have five new scouts in my den this year, and while that’s a few more than I was expecting, they seem like fabulous kids and it’s going to be a great year.

Friday – rest

I really don’t have much nice to say about Friday. It started out nicely enough with a breakfast with another Scout leader, but quickly deteriorated. Mr PugRunner ended up at the Minute Clinic with suspected pinkeye (he was diagnosed with conjunctivitis, which may or may not have been contagious and may or may not have resulted from allergies). This led to me coming home to bleach, scrub and sterilize every surface in the house.

On the plus side, my friend had planned to take little man to her house for the night, and she is absolutely not as squeamish about pink eye as I am, and said that as long as he came home from school without symptoms, she was fine having him. It was a huge help to me, and the best news is that little man and I remained completely unscathed.

Needless to say, my only exercise for the day involved carrying loads of sheets and towels up and down the stairs.

Saturday – 8 miles, running

S was gracious enough to join me for eight miles. It was the hottest day of the year, and we could feel it. Regardless, it was good to bank those miles, even though I chafed miserably from my shorts (they were soaked by the end of the run).

After a shower, I treated myself to an iced coffee and picked up little man. We watched the Miami Hurricanes beat Toledo State and then he went off to play while I handled a second round of deep cleaning, just in case (by this point, he had been on his meds long enough and no one else was showing signs, so we were pretty much in the clear).

The icing on the cake of the day was Bentley had another semi-severe episode. It broke my heart to see him disoriented again. Hopefully, the vet will have some more answers for us this week.

I crashed in front of the The Greatest Showman with a beer and a bowl of popcorn, and that was how my day ended.

 

I was just incredibly run down and defeated this week. I work really hard to stay positive and brush things off, but there are days and weeks where I just don’t have the enthusiasm for it. I am feeling myself withdrawing a lot, which happens from time to time, but I need some down time to recharge. That’s going to have to be a priority this week, or else I’ll probably start hiding under the kitchen table.

Onward and upward (but hopefully far from that big baby panther!)

How was your week in training?

Do you share a community with a baby panther or similar wildlife?

How do you pick yourself up when things gets to be a little much?

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weekly wrap: 9.2.18 – 9.8.18

Posted on September 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.

Here’s the week in numbers:

Sunday –7 miles, running
Monday – rest
Tuesday – 6.2 miles, running 
Wednesday – 1.6 miles, running (hill intervals) + ultimate arm workout
Thursday – 6.17 miles, running + tone, torch & tighten workout
Friday – 3 miles,  running
Saturday – core workout

I struggled this week. Not in workouts – I seemed to have those dialed in. However, the rest of the week was a terrible scramble. There were many awesome highlights, but we had some tough times as well.

Sunday – 7 miles, running

It was a bit of a lie start to my morning miles, but I managed to stick it out for seven. Yay!

I tried to have a chill rest of the morning, because the day was going to be hectic. First up, a baby shower for a dear friend. Her (for now) youngest son and little man met in pre-school and have been buddies ever since. It was a lovely afternoon, celebrating the newest member of their family.

And then it was home for the Miami Hurricanes season opener. We had a few people over and though the game didn’t end quite as we would have hoped, we did have a great time with our fellow fans.

Monday – rest

Normally, I run a Labor Day 5K, but I skipped it this year. We had a late night with the game, and little man had a friend sleep over.

It felt weird not being part of a holiday race (you know how I love those), but it was also good to spend time with the family.

Tuesday – 6.17 miles, running

It was nice to get back on the road after Labor Day.

When I got home, I started to get the pugs fed and things moving for school, but there was a bit of a problem. Bentley ate his breakfast and then started falling. He couldn’t seem to get his feet under him, couldn’t hold his head upright and his eyes were twitching back and forth so badly. It was terrible and we felt so helpless.

Mr PugRunner was able to get him a morning appointment at the vet, where we were told that he most likely has vestibular disease, a glitch with the nerves in his inner ear. The vet was fairly certain it was a one-off, triggered by his ear infection, but we needed to keep an eye on it – continuation of the symptoms would mean something far more dire 🙁

Wednesday – 1.6 miles, hill intervals + ultimate arm workout

I have found some really great workout cards on Pinterest, and am finding they fit in beautifully with what the neighborhood gym has to offer. This time, I did a nice hill workout on the treadmill as my warm up, and then finished up with a circuit of raises, presses, curls and rows.

Thursday – 6.2 miles, running + tone, torch & tighten workout

We had a sluggish 6.2 miler. My upper body was on fire and I was tired.

Later, I took on a workout that focused a bit more on the lower body with some squats and deadlifts, but still gave a nod to raises and curls. Ouch.

I had to help out at the school in the afternoon, and could not wait to get home to get my hands on my brand new Brooks Bedlams.

These are a stability shoe – very lightweight, very flexible, with a new cushioning system that is both soft with lots of pop and energy return. While I love my Adrenalines, the Bedlams have a lower drop (8mm vs 12mm) and seem to be a bit more in line with some other shoes I love. I was excited to give them a go.

That night, we had our Sign Up Night for Scouts. We had lots of interest and plenty of new families joined us to register their kiddos and see what we are all about.

Friday – 3 miles, running

This was just a quickie run to try out the Bedlams. It wasn’t an entirely fair test. My muscles were all burning from my gym time this week, and it was hard to get moving, but from what I could tell, I loved them. I am excited to put them through their paces on a longer distance this upcoming week.

Afterwards, we had a PTA meeting, followed by a Teacher Tailgate. I was able to stay through most of the luncheon, but Bentley was having more episodes and after his vet visit, we wanted someone to be home with him.

We still don’t have super clear answers. It could be old age (he’s going to be 13 soon). It could be a tumor (this is the last possibility, so we’re trying not to think about it). It could be side effects of his ear infections, or drainage or a reaction to something. We are ruling out things, keeping him well-loved and under close observation and hopefully, we can get a handle on it without it being too serious.

Saturday – core workout

I was in no mood to do much of anything on Saturday, except sit back and relax.

Mr PugRunner took little man to his friend’s house (which ended up turning into a sleepover) and I caught up on streaming some movies on Amazon Prime. They have a fantastic selection.

I did manage to get in a rigorous core workout, full of crunches, bird dogs, side crunches and one legged kettlebell deadlifts. I was glad that I felt motivated to get it done.

 

And so ended the first full week of September. The Atlantic is currently brewing with tropical depressions and hurricane potential. We have several huge fundraisers going on at school and in Scouts.

I’m crazy worried about our sweet pug and I’m starting to get a little anxious about some of my deadlines coming up. I know it will all get done (it always does), but I go through these swings of needing to work it all out in my head (including all possible scenarios, positive and negative) first.

 

How was your week in training?

If you live near the Atlantic Coast, are you ready for the upcoming storm season?

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race report: tijuana flats summer beach run {8.25.18}

Posted on September 5, 2018 by runswithpugs

One of the longest-running (see what I did there) races in the Northeast Florida area is the Tijuana Flats Summer Beach Run 5 Miler. It’s part of the local Grand Prix series, and is, as advertised, five miles on the sand of Jacksonville Beach.

And before a few weeks ago, I had somehow managed to never run it.

My usual August race is Tour De Pain, but I was out of town when that rolled around, and the Summer Beach Run, rescheduled to the end of the month, was a suitable replacement. Even though I didn’t know anyone else running, and it was an evening event in the dead of summer, I went ahead and registered.

As race day approached, I considered blowing it off. I don’t know why I felt jittery. I’m generally fine doing runs by myself, and the distance certainly wasn’t an issue. I just wasn’t feeling it.

The day of the race was spent almost entirely standing outside manning a popcorn table with the Scouts, so my legs were certainly tired and I was probably not hydrated or fueled properly. As I was getting ready to leave the house, a nasty storm passed through, and I let Mr PugRunner and little man off the hook for coming with me. They opted in, however, and Mr PugRunner said that the rain would absolutely stop.

Which was good, because we all know how I feel about running in the rain.

Mr PugRunner let me out of the car at the Seaside Pavilion to collect my shirt and bib while he went to find a parking spot. I was able to snag my stuff and use the port a potty before they joined me. There was still some time before the start, so we wandered around the booths and listened to the live music. I tried to balance drinking my Nuun and not having to use the bathroom, but I wanted to stay hydrated in the heat and sun of the afternoon.

At the appointed time, I headed down to the start line on the sand.

There was some great music and Orange Theory was on hand to do a warm up. Mr PugRunner advised me to keep an eye on the tide: it was coming way up on the beach, and the boys got out of the way of the runners.

After the National Anthem, it was go-time.

Even though this race was comprised of all the things I don’t love (sand, evening, August heat and humidity), I really enjoyed it. The sand was flat and firm enough that I didn’t have any jangling in my hip. It was kind of interesting to have to dodge around the people who were actually there relaxing on the beach with their towels, chairs and umbrellas, but it kept me focused for the duration, and people tended to stay put and out of the way as best they could.

There was just enough of a light breeze to make the heat tolerable, and it remained overcast so the sun was never a problem.

I even got to run alongside the Navy for quite a bit, which was nice because they were running in cadence and made it pretty easy to follow.

The course was fairly easy: 2.5 miles south on the sand, then looping around to return. With about 2/10 of a mile to go, the course cut up through the softer sand and on to the paved walkway along the beach. While the soft sand was no picnic, that final sprint on asphalt was lovely.

It was one of the strongest runs I’ve had in a while.

The afterparty was rocking. Tijuana Flats was handing out tacos and chips and salsa. There was live music and free beer for runners, as well as ice cream trucks lined up for cool treats. The boys and I had dinner plans, so I grabbed a beer rather than a snack.

I loved scoring some bling again, too!

With all said and done, this was just the race event I needed. It was a bit of a confidence boost, and I loved feeling how all my summer training miles have paid off. I wouldn’t think twice about doing this one again in the future, but I also loved trying something new and being so pleasantly surprised.

Would you take on an August evening beach race?

Are you Team Taco after a big race?

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weekly wrap: 8.26.18 – 9.1.18

Posted on September 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.

Here’s the week in numbers:

Sunday – rest
Monday – rest
Tuesday – 4 miles, running + arms
Wednesday – 5 miles, running
Thursday – rest
Friday – 7 miles, running
Saturday – rest

This week looks super light as far as miles are concerned. The Saturday night race right before it started ate into the overall totals. That being said, I ended August with a grand total of 94 miles so it can’t be too bad, right?

Sunday – rest

I was really tired and just wanted to chill on Sunday. However in the morning, I was scheduled for a second popcorn Show + Sell for the Scouts with little man, this one lasting two hours. It’s for a fabulous cause but it makes for a long day.

When we wrapped up, we had plans to meet friends at the pool. Due to some earlier rain, we had the entire area to ourselves, and everything was going beautifully, until little man bit wrong on a chip. With the amount of blood and carrying on, we thought he may have cracked it, so we moved the party back to our house and tried to keep an eye on his mouth.

Monday – rest

It was another morning where I struggled to get up. I let the run plans go and just focused on things I had to do. I had volunteered to help out with school pictures, and so spent the entire morning at the school, organizing the lines of kids. It went fairly smoothly and it’s good to be able to help out.

Little man was still complaining about his tooth, and even though he had a scheduled appointment in ten days, I made another appointment for Tuesday to get him checked. I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable, especially with a holiday weekend coming up.

Tuesday – 4 miles, running + arms

In the morning, thunder and lightning derailed my run plans. Ugh. I was really feeling edgy about it, so I decided to check out the new gym in our community.

While I do typically hate the treadmill, I was able to do a nice hill interval workout, good for almost two miles, followed by 25 minutes of arm work, and wrapped up with another two miles of running. In all that, I didn’t have to use any walk breaks, which was kind of nice and encouraging.

In the evening, I had to report back to school for the first of two Open House nights. Tuesday’s event was for VPK through second grade parents, and attendance was pretty high. The PTA sold memberships and spirt wear and it ended up being quite successful.

Wednesday – rest

After getting little man off to school, I had the rest of the morning to focus on some work. at 12:15, the PTA had a meeting regarding our upcoming fundraiser run, and some communication work. It was a productive day.

Thursday – 5 miles, running

Thursday was a bit of a tough day.

When I got back from my run, little man was having a tough time with some wheezing. Allergy season is back, but the wheezing made us nervous, so we kept him home and got him in to the doctor. The good news is that it wasn’t croup or the start of any other respiratory issues – she prescribed us another course of meds for his nebulizer and he was good to go. I hate feeling like I’m overreacting, but I don’t tend to mess around with lungs.

That night, we had the second Open House for the older grades. I worked the PTA table for the first shift and then sat in on the 5th grade session to see what they would be learning and doing this year. I love little man’s teacher (actually both of them – he has a main instructor for homeroom, math and science and then switches to the reading, writing and social studies teacher) and it sounds like they’re going to have a great year.

Friday – rest

Things returned to normal on Friday, and I was glad to have a quiet day at home. I attempted to send Mr PugRunner out with one of his buddies to catch a band at a dive bar near our house, but that buddy turned around and invited him and little man to a Mini Kiss concert at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum.

The kids needed up having a blast at the show and little man wants to attend more concerts.

I sat this one out – I was just feeling ridiculously exhausted and worn out and needed a night on the couch. I ended up watching Deadpool 2 while I did some work, and had a great night in.

Saturday – rest

I vaguely considered getting up for a run but staying in bed was pretty darn nice, too.

Little man had a buddy come over for the afternoon while Mr PugRunner met with our HOA President regarding a fall event they will be organizing for the community. I did a bunch of cleaning and a little bit of shopping, and it was nice to just have nothing major on the agenda for the day.

 

This week was rough. I wasn’t feeling 100% and I wasn’t getting good sleep. Our oldest pug had some pretty restless nights (she goes through phases of wakefulness) and I think it all just added up for me. I would have like to see some more miles, but I think it was ok to cut back a little bit. I choose to give myself a break on this one.

How was your week in training?

Do you ever have those weeks where you are just completely overwhelmed and need to decompress?

 

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