weekly wrap: 3.26 – 4.1 + publix savannah women’s half marathon training week 8

Posted on April 3, 2017 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin!

WeeklyWrap

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 we are. Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon week! The weather reports are in, and it looks like everything is on track for an amazing weekend. I am really looking forward to visiting with some wonderful running friends, and visiting a city I love.

How did the past week shape up? Pretty decently, considering.

Sunday – Y Not Tri Indoor Triathlon (415 yards swimming, 8.2 miles cycling, 1.72 miles running)

Recap on this coming soon! I promise! It was a great preview to the triathlon world, and I was actually pretty proud of myself.

Unfortunately, the rest of the day was spent helping Mr PugRunner get packed for two trips (one personal and unexpected, the other for business). We took a break to check out a new restaurant that opened recently.

Monday – rest

Mr PugRunner headed out early Monday, and so I got little man off to school for his FSA tests. We haven’t really made a big deal out of the tests, so the plan was to make sure he had a good night’s sleep and a solid breakfast.

It ended up being a great day – little man got his report card and made honor roll again! We opted to stay home from karate because it was a later class and he had another test on Tuesday. It was a great idea in theory, but he ended up shredding both his knees when he tripped while running in flip flops. Ugh.

Tuesday – 4 miles running

I had a pair of new shoes that I was eager to try, so I headed out for a four mile spin in these Adidas Supernova STs.

Honestly, I was quite impressed. While I don’t know if I would wear them for longer than five or six miles, they felt great for the shorter distance and I am happy to add them to my rotation.

Work ended up being insanely busy, which was probably for the best. However, I was really, really glad to get home. Little man skipped his last session of running club because of his cut up knees, and I was just really happy to have a quiet night with him.

Wednesday – 8.5 miles cycling, 3 miles running

I went out for another brick on Wednesday morning. The wind was still a factor, but I felt strong and quite pleased with the results. That being said, my Garmin was almost dead and I managed to finish up right before it pooped out. Yay, me!

My parents came over that afternoon, and Mr PugRunner arrived home earlier than planned (yay!) so we all went out to a nice family dinner. It was much needed and I was so happy to have our little family together.

Thursday – rest

The day started incredibly early as Mr PugRunner had  5:30 AM flight. I didn’t get back to sleep, so I just started my day.

That being said, I had a hair appointment! It has been a LONG time since I treated myself, and I was so happy to have F take care of my grays and dead ends. She layered everything so my hair is much lighter for summer.

After school, little man and I picked up our race packets for the Ready. Set. Glow 5K and grabbed a bite to eat before Cub Scouts. I confess, we spent a lot of time eating out this week. It was just easier with everything going on.

Friday – 5 miles running + Ready. Set. Glow 5K

With the way the week was going, I knew I wasn’t going to get in any kind of a long run, so I split it up into a morning five miler, saving the last three miles for our evening 5K.

Little man had complained that his shoes were getting too small, so I made a trip to the New Balance outlet to get him another pair in the next size up. Holy moly, his feet are getting so big!

The race was wonderful. I wish it had been a little cooler, but we toughed it out. Little man did an amazing job. I can’t wait to share all about it!

Saturday – rest

Saturday was a day of errands and getting things done. Little man helped me take some photos for another blog post I had to write,

we went to the grocery store and Target. We had a late night, enjoying snacks and cocktails with neighbors while the kids played in the culdesac. It was a very welcome break.

 

The month of March did end on a high note: 74.2 miles running and 24.5 miles cycling. I feel back to myself in a lot of ways, and am looking forward to the month ahead.

On Saturday, I’ll be running the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon! If you still haven’t signed up, online registration closes on Wednesday night at 11:59 PM ET.

How was your week in training? 

What’s next up for you?

 

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new looks from new balance + new balance fashion fitness expo

Posted on April 3, 2017 by runswithpugs

I was gifted the following items from New Balance in association with my partnership with Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon and 5K. All opinions are my own.

It’s almost time!

In less than a week, runners will be arriving in Savannah and heading to the New Balance Fashion Fitness Expo to pick up their race packets,

and then to shop at booths manned by some of Savannah’s favorite local purveyors. From there, athletes will find themselves at the New Balance area, which will be fully stocked with the latest in running gear, race logo apparel and a full complement of New Balance running shoes.

Over the last year, I have become a huge fan of New Balance’s running clothes. I love the light and airy fabrics, the flattering cuts and draping, and the attention to detail. The colors and styles are both fashionable and functional, and they stand up well to washing.

In the meantime, I had the opportunity to try out a new look!

Check this out!

All in all, I found the ensemble well-suited to me. It was light enough for a warm Florida day, and comfortable for both running and yoga.

Heathered Short Sleeve Tee (alpha violet heather)

While we don’t have too much call for t-shirts in Florida, this heathered short sleeve fits the bill. It is so light and the material skims the body without clinging.

Since I am on the taller side (just under 5’10”) with a long torso, I appreciated that the tee hit at a good point on my hip, and didn’t ride up if I moved or extended my arms.

The moisture wicking was on point, too, and I really liked how the flat seams were totally unnoticeable.

Accelerate Capris (black)

I was really impressed by these capris. The material felt really thin, but once I had them on, they fit smoothly and flattered my curves. I loved the length, and while I initially thought the waistband would be too narrow, it fit nicely and the drawstring was easy to adjust.

There is also an inner, back pocket, which is perfect for a gel or key.

They didn’t ride down while I was running, either, which is a huge factor in my capri purchases.

I liked the reflective details on the legs, as well.

(Please note – these pants do run a little large, so please take that into account when purchasing).

Fresh Foam Zante v3 (Black with Thunder)

I was really excited to try out the shoes. I confess, my go-to shoes are stability models, so I know that these neutrals would be more for work and walking around than for running, but they are incredibly comfortable.

For one thing, they are super light and flexible. I also loved the feel of the Fresh Foam. It’s soft, but also responsive. The 6mm offset is a little lower than what I normally wear, but I didn’t feel like I was positioned too low to the ground.

While my overpronation would prevent me from wearing the Zantes for anything longer than short bursts of running, I loved the feel of the Fresh Foam cushion and would absolutely purchase a stability model in the future.

I am definitely looking forward to treating myself to a new outfit this year!

Don’t forget, online registration for the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon & 5K ends on Wednesday, April 5 at 11:59PM Eastern. That means there’s still time to take advantage of this great savings!

Do you have a favorite piece of New Balance gear?

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race into spring with run 13.1 + tropical smoothie cafe

Posted on March 28, 2017 by runswithpugs

This is a sponsored post. I have been compensated for my promotion of Run 13.1 and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. All opinions are my own.

April showers and May flowers are right around the corner! That’s right: spring has sprung! And what better way to celebrate than with the Run 13.1 and 5K on April 2?

Runners can choose from two distances (either 13.1 or 3.1 miles) in this race that starts and finishes at 7:00 AM at the iconic Jacksonville Landing.

The half marathon course offers a route through downtown Jacksonville, through the Springfield neighborhood, makes a loop around the Evergreen Cemetery and then returns to the Jacksonville Landing. The 5K starts with the 13.1ers, heading out for about 1.5 miles before turning to head back to the finish line.

Participants in both distances will receive gender-specific, moisture-wicking, technical shirts and a beautiful custom medal, and everyone is welcome at the post-race party to celebrate with music, food and beer!

Register at any 1st Place Sports retail location or online (online registration closes on Thursday, March 30).

You can also celebrate the new season with some of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s latest “boosted” offerings.

Try the Chia Banana Boost with Strawberries (coconut, almonds, dates, cinnamon, whole grain oats, chia seeds, roasted banana and strawberries), the Chia Banana Boost with Peanut Butter (coconut, almonds, dates, cinnamon, whole grain oats, chia seeds, roasted banana and peanut butter) or the Acai Berry Boost (acai, pomegrante, banana, blueberries and strawberries.

Which one will you try first?

See you at the Jacksonville Landing, ready to run!

 

 

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weekly wrap: 3.19 – 3.25 + publix savannah women’s half marathon training week 7

Posted on March 27, 2017 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin!

WeeklyWrap

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!

Things went fairly well this week. There was a lot going on, but even with that, I managed to get in some nice runs and some decent cycling. After all, I had my first Indoor Tri yesterday (more on that later), so it was more than time to start dealing with training bricks.

Sunday – 10 miles cycling, 1.5 miles running

I wanted to build on Saturday’s run success, so I decided to try out the concept of riding, then hopping off and running. I set up a little transition area in the driveway, and set out.

It was far more windy than I needed, so my legs were aching by the time I finished 10 miles. Turning my feet over to run was harder than I would have thought, but once I got going, things went fairly smoothly. I didn’t have tons of time, so I did a quick 1.5 miler, just to get used to the feeling.

It went decently well. I was not disappointed.

Monday – 7 miles cycling

Little man had his last official day of Spring Break, so when I got home from work, the boys were still out and about. It was way too hot to run, so I got on the bike for another (too-windy) seven miles. The positive is that I am playing more with my gears to compensate for the resistance.

Tuesday – 5.1 miles, running

I had time for about four miles in the morning.

Then it was off to a fairly busy day at work, a very short (one mile) and hot run at little man’s run club

and finally, dinner with a girlfriend, who I haven’t seen in years. Literally.

Wednesday – rest

Nothing to report on Wednesday. Work was uneventful and the evening was quiet. Little man had his karate class, and did very well.

Thursday – 6 miles running

I had a bit of a late start, but I still managed six miles. Several of which were in the rain. Because I’m hardcore like that.

I was hoping to get out again when the boys went to Cub Scouts, but it was still drizzly, so I bailed and watched a movie at home instead.

Friday – rest

I met one of my running friends for a super yummy breakfast,

and then I had to go to one of our city’s YMCA’s to pick up my packet for Sunday’s Y Not Tri Indoor Triathlon.

Also on my list? Picking up an “athletic” swimsuit for said tri (and my upcoming one in April). I am not ready to commit to a full tri kit, but a suit for laps seemed like a decent investment. I figure I can wear a sports bra underneath it for extra support and then just slap my tank and running shorts over it when I get out of the pool and hit transition.

To date, I still don’t ride in cycling shorts. I haven’t had any issues with saddle pain, and I despise how spandex shorts look on me. I know that’s really vain, but I just don’t think I would be comfortable. For the time being, I think this will work fine.

That evening, we got dressed up for a nice dinner out to celebrate the homecoming of one of our deployed friends. It was a lovely evening, and look! Evidence that I do wear real clothes and makeup!

Saturday – rest

I was on the fence about running or riding. However, I had the Y Not Tri Indoor Tri planned for Sunday and really, really wanted to rest my legs. Especially since I hadn’t been in the in the pool in…. well… in a year. Oops.

We had a bit of a family day with karate photos for little man, a trip to the hardware store for some new pots and plants for the front porch, and a delicious dinner that Mr PugRunner cooked up on the Big Green Egg (honey glazed salmon and roasted beets with goat cheese).

I laid out my outfits and packed my bag for the morning. I was nervous, but I figured I would get to the Y well in advance of my 10:10 AM start to get settled.

 

So, 17 miles on the bike and 12.6 miles running are my totals for the week. While I am hating the windy weather, I’m glad for the extra challenge. I can’t wait to share about the Indoor Tri! Two weeks until the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon and I am incredibly excited about that, too!

How was your week in training?

Any recommendations for solid triathlon gear?

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tuesdays on the run: jacksonville race love

Posted on March 22, 2017 by runswithpugs

It’s Tuesday, so I’ll be joining up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice and MCM Mama Runs for “Tuesdays on The Run”!

Tuesdays on the Run

The lovely TOTR ladies are sharing all about their favorite local races, and I’ve got plenty to say on the matter!

When we moved to the Northeast Florida area almost a decade ago, neither Mr PugRunner nor myself had running on our minds. It was only in the last few years that we discovered our little hobby was supported by what I would consider one of the best running communities ever.

Here are some of my favorites:

Gate River Run 15K

Touted as the largest 15K in the entire country, the Gate River Run just celebrated its 40th anniversary. Over 20,000 runners come from all over the world to participate in the morning’s events (in addition to the 15K, there is a 5K, a Junior River Run of one mile and a Brooks Rehab Mile).

The course takes runners on a scenic tour of Jacksonville: through the city, over the Main Street Bridge,

through some of the beautiful neighborhoods on the other side of the river, back over the Hart Bridge with a finish line right outside Everbank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Course support is outrageous: residents and fans set up camp in the streets, with signs and high fives, in addition to mimosas, bloody mary’s, extra beer, and even sausage, donuts and popsicles! It’s definitely worth experiencing, at least once.

Run 26.2 with DONNA

Created in 2008 by local news personality and three-time breast cancer survivor Donna Deegan, Run 26.2 with DONNA is amazing as both a race and a charity. The DONNA takes over the entire second weekend of February, with a 5K and 10K held on Saturday, and the half marathon, full marathon and marathon relay on Sunday.

All proceeds from the race go to both the DONNA Foundation (which provides financial assistance for the critical needs of men and women diagnosed with breast cancer) and the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Translational Genomics Program for breast cancer research, awareness and care.

I ran the Sunday event for the first time in February, and I have been missing out. It is the most inspirational, beautiful race I have ever had the honor of running, and I intend to be back for years to come. From the streets lined with pink, to the nonstop cheering crowds, to the teams supporting each other – it’s really unlike anything else.

Tour De Pain

You know I am all about a good race challenge, and Tour De Pain is one of the coolest. The race takes place over two days with a four-mile beach run on Friday night, a morning 5K road race, and then a late afternoon mile “sizzler.” It’s pretty exhausting, both mentally and physically. There’s enough downtime to psych yourself out, but not enough to really get some good rest. Oh, and did I mention it takes place in August?

Thanksgiving Distance Classic

With half marathon and 6K options, the Thanksgiving Distance Classic has just become part of the holiday. I can’t imagine starting to work on a turkey without a race under my belt.

There’s a nice, early start, and the course is through some pretty, shaded Mandarin neighborhoods. For some reason, it’s almost always one of my faster runs, so I always try to make time for it in my race calendar.

Ready. Set. Glow 5K

I’m a sucker for a good cause, so Ready. Set. Glow 5K is certainly up there on my list. In its second year, Ready. Set. Glow benefits three neighborhood schools with it’s nighttime, glowrific 5K (and a one mile fun run for those who aren’t up to 3.1 miles). It’s a great way to get families out and running, which is always a wonderful thing in my book.

 

What are some of your favorite local races?

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weekly wrap: 3.12.2017 – 3.18.2017 + publix savannah women’s half marathon training week 6

Posted on March 20, 2017 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin!

WeeklyWrap

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!

Obviously, when blogging, I prefer to share the positives and the highlights. I don’t like to dwell on the negatives or focus on the bad times. I mention when I have a bad run or training session, or when I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing my goals, but that’s about all the time I like to devote to it.

This week, however, was bad. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how bad it was. There was a perfect storm of causes: the time change, a sudden plummet in temperature, a really awful interaction that left me shaken and off-kilter. I couldn’t get myself together. I barely wanted to get out of bed, let alone run or workout. I was hoping to start boot camp this week, but I didn’t. I didn’t eat well (or much), and I certainly didn’t hydrate properly. I didn’t want to socialize, blog, or even go outside.

It was ugly.

I had two opportunities to race this weekend, and I skipped both of them. I didn’t feel like getting up. I can argue that maybe my body needed the rest time, but I can also argue that I was deep (DEEP) in the throes of some blahs (the conditions are perfect for a bout of seasonal depression) and needed a big ol’ kick in the booty to get back to right.

So. Here we are.

Today, I am feeling better and stronger, and more hopeful. Waking up in the dark is still very much not my favorite, but it has to be overcome.

Sunday – rest

After the Gate River Run, a date and the time change, we were all pretty happy to stay in bed and lay low. It was freezing and even a little dreary, and no one was much motivated to do anything.

We met my parents for a late lunch – we had planned for little man to spend a few days with them until I closed out my work week.

Monday – rest

I had a very long day of work, and by the time I got home, I was spent. Mr PugRunner had come home early and made a really delicious lasagna, but I could barely eat it. I went to bed early, couldn’t fall asleep and laid awake most of the night.

Tuesday –  rest

I had promised myself that I would get up for boot camp or running or both, but I didn’t. In fact, I probably didn’t get out of bed until about 30 minute before I had to leave for work. It’s very unlike me and I felt awful about it.

My parents dropped little man off when I got home. We didn’t have any special plans for the night, but were looking forward to doing a few fun things on my days off.

Wednesday – 4.2 miles, running

It wasn’t an early morning, but I did manage to get in 4.2 miles. Even though it was cold out (in the 30s), I wasn’t feeling it much at all. Plus, I missed having a buddy, but since it was Spring Break, not many people were around.

Once I got showered, we went to our local trampoline gym to meet up with some friends. The kids bounced for a while and we had lunch, before we had to leave for some errands. Little man apparently has discovered a new love of wings (no sauce).

Mr PugRunner didn’t get home until later in the evening, after meeting with our accountant (yay tax time), so I didn’t get to the gym then either.

Thursday – rest

Mr PugRunner got invited to Orlando to go watch some of the NCAA games in a suite, so he left pretty early in the morning. Little man and I met up with another friend for a day of laser tag, bowling and arcade games. The kids had so much fun and the other mom and I were able to chat while they played.

Friday – rest

When I woke up, I felt dizzy and a little nauseous. It wasn’t pleasant, and while I wasn’t really sick, my body just wasn’t happy.

I had told little man we would go to the movies, but I asked him if we could postpone to Saturday until I was feeling better. He was ok with that, and I focused on feeling better so we could help Mr PugRunner celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (it’s his favorite), first with lunch at an Irish pub and then a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner at a friend’s house.

Saturday – 5 miles, running

I had been thinking about getting up early to do a last minute 5K at the Vilano Bridge, but when 5AM rolled around, I was more than happy to roll back over and go back to sleep until a little later, when I completed a pretty nice five miles.

In the afternoon, we finally went to see Beauty and the Beast. The boys enjoyed it, but I was really disappointed. I am fairly certain I am the only one who felt there was so much missed potential, and while it was artistically beautiful, I was just left feeling flat.

Lunch and our first frozen custard of the season helped make up for it.

 

I guess we can just call it a lazy, cutback kind of week. I know I haven’t lost much in terms of fitness, but motivation is a little harder to reclaim. I can tell you that I came back in a big way yesterday and I am vowing to work onward from there. I have too many goals and plans to give up.

 

How was your week in training?

Do you ever just find yourself unable to get yourself out of a funk?

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race report: best damn race orlando 10k + 5k challenge {3.4.17}

Posted on March 15, 2017 by runswithpugs

I am an ambassador for the Best Damn Race series. I am compensated for my promotion of the BDR events with race entries and sponsor gifts. All opinions are my own.

The Best Damn Race Orlando 10K + 5K Challenge was a Christmas gift from my parents (thanks, guys!). I’m not entirely sure WHY Meghan and I decided running 9.3 miles that day would be a great idea, but it would keep me on track for Gate River Run and Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon training, so it was definitely the right call.

Last year, due to my hip injury, I ended up not even being able to make the trip down to Orlando attempt the 5K, so I was chomping at the bit to get back to this venue. I love the series, and would, one day, love to run all of the BDR races, as scheduling allows.

I drove down to Orlando on Friday afternoon. I would be staying with Meghan at her house, and we decided that we would just pick up our packets on race morning, so I didn’t have to rush around downtown, and we could spend more time carb-loading and catching up.

It was the right call.

Dinner at TR Fire Grill was beyond amazing, and we were feeling quite well-fueled when we finally headed to bed.

Since the races started at 7:05AM, we were out the door just a little after 5:30. We had to stop for a bagel (I forgot my granola bar), and then we snagged parking in a $5 lot a few blocks from the start line.

The morning was pretty chilly and windy, and I was mostly glad for lower temperatures.

Packet pickup was fairly easy (although a lot of people did opt for race day pickup). We got our t-shirts and wristbands for the beer garden, and then dropped our bags with a friend (although gear check was also an easy option).

We met up with some of our fellow ambassadors and took some pre-race photos. With people running three different races at different times, it was hard to coordinate a big group photo and there were still some running buddies we didn’t get to see. Next time!

Nadine, Haley, me and Meghan

Matthew, Meghan, Caitlyn and me

With the 10K starting soon, Meghan and I made a run to the portapotties on our way to the start line.

Corrals were self-seeded and we found ourselves a nice spot. After the National Anthem, the 10K runners started out.

When I ran this course two years ago, it was slick and wet and misty. This year it was chilly and windy, but the terrain didn’t really offer too many issues. Yes, there are a lot of bricks in downtown Orlando, but it wasn’t too bad for the 6.2 mile distance. The majority of the race takes place in some very pretty neighborhoods, and then winds back into the city for the final push to the finish line.

I like the course. It’s interesting, with some small elevation variety. I believe we counted four or five aid stations along the 10K course, although I was too cold to stop for hydration (which Meghan told me was freaking her out). I opted out of my handheld water bottle, because I knew I could get Nuun on the course, but I just never wanted any.

We finished all smiles and made our way through the chute to collect our medals, a bottle of water and then a fruit popsicle. Yum.

There was about 40 minutes until the 5K started, so we spent the time taking pictures of our first piece of bling, going to the restroom. And hitting up the beer garden. Because it just felt like the right thing to do.

Before we knew it, it was time to go again. The 5K was just an abbreviated version of the 10K, and it was a nice run. We spent 3.1 miles chatting and laughing (and with me skipping the water stops again). The wind had definitely kicked up, so our last stretch to the finish line was a little more challenging. Boo.

But we smiled all the same.

(Yes, Best Damn Race offers free race photos! It’s such a great perk and we ended up with several good photos!)

At this point, we were plenty warm, and it was time to get a snack. Best Damn Race is known for his post-party, and we were happy to grab a selection from the food tent: I got a cold Diet Coke, brownie bite and slice of pizza (they also had oranges and bananas, candy, chips and other goodies), and then we returned to the beer garden.

This year, I didn’t have anything going on at home, so I was able to hang out and enjoy the festivities a bit.

It ended up being such a nice morning, and I almost didn’t want to leave.

On our way back to Meghan’s house, we stopped at Se7en Bites for breakfast and drinks. Eggs, grits, fried green tomatoes and a delicious garlic biscuit with a blackberry sangria. It was absolutely everything we needed, and then some.

I was really happy we decided to go ahead with the challenge. I confess that I was having a very hard time getting over the seven mile hump in my training, and getting through 9.3 with a friend made it all so much more bearable and put a great spin of momentum on the weeks ahead.

I am so grateful to Meghan for being such a great running buddy (and gracious hostess) – we are incredibly well matched, and my biggest complaint is that we don’t live closer to do more regular training together.

So ends another fabulous season of BDR (for me). I am hoping to add some other locations to my calendar next season (um, New Orleans anyone?), but we will see how it goes!

What foods and drinks do you like to see at a post-race party?

5K, 10K or both?

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get the luck of the irish with the st. paddy’s run and tropical smoothie cafe!

Posted on March 14, 2017 by runswithpugs

This is a sponsored post. I have been compensated for my promotion of St. Paddy’s Run and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. All opinions are my own.

Since becoming a runner, one of my favorite things to do is race on holidays. There’s just something so great about joining a bunch of fellow runners, usually in themed clothes, getting a jump on a day of celebration.

Of course, the St. Paddy’s Day Run is a great way to celebrate the luck of the Irish.

Held on Sunday, March 19 at 8:00 AM, and offering a 5K and 10K option, runners can wear their green and race their hearts out through the paths of the historic Evergreen Cemetery for the “gold” (medal) at the end of the rainbow… er… finish line.

Register online or at any 1st Place Sports store to take part! All registrants will receive a gender-specific technical shirt, a gorgeous leprechaun hat medal and free beer at the finish!

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, too!

Swing by your local Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and choose from any of the beautiful green smoothies, loaded with spinach and kale, among other yummy fruits and veggies. Or break out and try the Chia Banana Boost with Strawberries or Peanut Butter, or the Acai Berry Boost.

Will you be joining us for the festivities?

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weekly wrap: 3.5.2017 – 3.11.2017 + publix savannah women’s half marathon training week 5

Posted on March 13, 2017 by runswithpugs

Happy Monday!  It’s time for the Weekly Wrap with HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin!

WeeklyWrap

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!

This past week has been… well…. eventful. It was Gate River Run Week, which meant all hands on deck at work. I was really looking forward to some downtime come Saturday.

Sunday – March to Get Screened 5K Run/Walk

I recapped the race here, but it was a great morning and a beautiful day. I was proud of myself for running my fastest 5K in quite some time, especially on the beach and on the heels of 9.3 miles the day before.

Monday – rest

Monday was less great. Little man had a rough and sleepless night, and Mr PugRunner ended up taking him to the doctor as soon as the office opened. Diagnosis? Strep. Ugh. On the plus side, he doesn’t tend to fever or sore throat when he has strep, but he was pretty miserable with some shallow breathing and coughing. Mr PugRunner and I tag teamed to stay home with him (I went to work in the morning, and we switched off when I got home).

In lieu of karate, we rented Moana, and spent the evening eating soup and singing along.

Tuesday – 4 miles

Little man had a much more restful sleep, and so I was able to get out for a 4 miler before work. It was a bit of a lonely run but I was glad for it.

We decided that little man would spend one more day at home, and we switched off work schedules again to make it happen. He was already 100% better, but we wanted him to have a little more rest and give the antibiotics a chance to really do their job.

Wednesday – rest

Wednesdays are short days for everyone, so it was a nice way to ease back into school. Fortunately, with spring break right around the corner, there wasn’t much makeup work for him, so we were able to enjoy another mostly low-key night. We did end up going to his karate class, just because he was going to be testing on Saturday morning and we wanted him to have one last refresher class before then.

Thursday – 5 miles

I had another solid run this morning, and was feeling pretty decent for Gate. Of course, it’s a pretty intimidating run in and of itself, but I was comfortable with what I had done as far as training thus far.

Mr PugRunner and Papa Bear had planned to spend the day in Orlando at a Yankees game, and my mom came down to help out with little man, so I could hit up the Expo to get my race packet, and then put in some hours at work.

She was also kind enough to take him to cub scouts when I got home so I could clean up and grab some dinner. My parents are, quite literally, the best.

Friday – rest

I was finally able to clean up around the house and get some small errands done. After all that, we headed over to little man’s school for his publishing party. The kids have all been working on informational papers on animals of the west, and little man’s piece on the King Salmon was quite educational. These papers will be part of a larger project for the end of the year, and I am excited to see how it all evolves.

I also got a nice surprise in the mail: the Aftershokz headphones I had won from #bibchat a couple of weeks ago. I know the rule about nothing new on race day, but I was pretty darn determined to try them out at the Gate.

We had a quiet night with takeout Italian for dinner, and I tried to get in bed on the early side.

Saturday – Gate River Run 15K

Due to not wanting to deal with traffic and road closures, I was out of the house by 5:30 AM. I wasn’t feeling great for a variety of reasons, and there were a few moments where I really thought about bailing and going home.

However, this IS one of my favorite races, and I was already up and dressed, so I figured I could slog it out.

Race recap to come, but I will give the huge spoiler alert and say that I PR’d! I had no idea until hours later, and it’s been so long since it’s happened, that I’m really feeling so much more motivated and positive about everything. Funny how that happens.

In the meantime, little man was at his dojo, earning his blue belt! He has been working really hard in karate, and I am so proud to see him moving along so beautifully.

While I worked on getting home, the boys went to spend the afternoon at a local Big Green Egg festival, sampling some delicious, BGE-cooked food. I, on the other hand, took a nap.

That evening, we had plans to go out to dinner with another couple. We shared a sitter between our combined three boys, and they may have had just as much fun as we did. It’s something we definitely plan to do again (although hopefully not after a huge 15k!).

 

Twenty one point four miles for the week, and I am feeling pretty strong. The unexpected PR boosted my spirits incredibly, and I am hoping to build on that this year. I think it was just the thing I needed to gain some more confidence.

This week, I am also going back to boot camp. I haven’t been able to do much cross training due to scheduling conflicts, so I am going to take the hit on sleep and get myself back into the gym for an early class.

I also plan to get back on the bike this week. I wanted to start doing laps, but low temperatures and storms are going to keep me out of the pool (outside and not heated). Yes, I’m that much of a sissy. But I’ll get caught up.

 

How was your week of training?

Are you managing to fend off illness in your house this winter?

 

 

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race report: march to get screened 5k run/walk {3.5.2017}

Posted on March 8, 2017 by runswithpugs

This is a sponsored post. March To Get Screened has provided me with complimentary entries to give away, as well as two for my own use, in exchange for promotion of the event. All opinions are my own.

On Sunday morning, we were able to take our time getting ready. The March To Get Screened 5K Run/Walk didn’t start until 9AM, and packet pickup began at 8AM. This was pretty late for a morning race, and it was a nice break.

We found parking in a public lot right by the start line, and hopped out to grab our bibs. We also received string bags and soft cotton logo t-shirts. We stashed everything in the trunk and joined the crowd waiting to head to the beach.

There was plenty to do – volunteers were handing out blue beads, leis, sunglasses and tattoos. There was a face painter and balloon artist (little man obviously hopped into line for a balloon animal), and another vendor was handing out coffee, hot chocolate and chicken biscuits.

The area was full of people, alone and in teams, dressed in blue. There was a definite camaraderie in the air.

It was sunny but windy and cold. I was glad to have layered up, and even more glad that I remembered an ear warmer for little man.

After a visit with C, who I haven’t seen in AGES,

and a trip to the portapotty, we made our way to the sand.

The course had changed from the last time I had participated in the event. This time, we would head north, under the pier, passing the finish line along the way, continue for just over 1.5 miles, turn around and come back. The wind would be a factor on the return trip.

Prior to the start, a few trainers led everyone in a warmup session. After that, March to Get Screened Founder and colon cancer survivor Jan Pratt welcomed everyone and spoke a bit about the importance of annual screenings to help detect and prevent colon cancer. It’s such a critical message and just a simple exam can potentially save so many.

With that, we were off.

I wasn’t really sure of my strategy. My legs were tired from the two races on Saturday, but the weather was cool, so I shortened up my intervals and dug deep. Mr PugRunner and little man wanted to walk, so I left them to do just that.

The sand was packed and really flat, which helped a lot. I’m not usually a strong beach runner, but I did feel good, so I pushed. It was really a glorious morning, and before I knew it, I had made the u-turn and was heading back.

March To Get Screened is a very walker friendly event, and I passed a lot of teams in themed shirts as I was heading back. Among the humorous one-liners, there was one group whose shirts all read “Losing is NOT an option” and it gave me chills. I repeated that mantra in my head for the remainder of the course.

It was tough having the finish line in sight for a full 1.5 miles, but finally, I passed the 3-mile marker, cut through the churned up sand and finished.

There was more water at the finish line and finishers received a medal (last year was the first year of medals for this particular event). A nice throng remained on the beach to welcome back the rest of the field. I had a quick drink and then got back on the course to find the guys.

They had decided to start running a little, so I kept pace with them until they got to the finish line.

As always, the awards ceremony took place at Lynch’s Irish Pub, right across from the finish line. Runners could get a complimentary beer, listen to live music by Darren Corlew, and enjoy some delicious menu items. We didn’t join in the festivities this time, but the after-party is inevitably a great time.

To end on a really high note, March To Get Screened reported that this event helped raise over $50,000 for colon cancer research, education and awareness, surpassing 2016 by $10,000! That’s an amazing victory and those funds will be spent finding a way to end colon cancer once and for all.

Do you have a colon cancer awareness event in your area?

Do you run with other family members?

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