{Wisconsin Marathon Training-Week 4}

Posted in Wisconsin Marathon Training by sneaksandstilettos

Despite less than stellar temperatures to train in this week, both Ryan and I had some solid runs this week.

Monday-6.25 miles + HIIT Workout (Sarah)

Post-run in my new favorite winter running jacket. More on the jacket later!

Cherry tomatoes, carrots, starfruit, mangos, apples, oranges, lemons, raspberries, blueberries, and, blackberries.

Getting a healthy dose of vitamins! We threw in some starfruit this week-yum!

I didn’t have school on Monday, so I had a chance to get in a solid run outside before the temperatures started dropping followed by a HIIT workout that left me sore for days. One of my new years resolutions was to add in a few HIIT workouts this year.

Tuesday-off
My whole body was sore from yesterday’s HIIT workout.

Wednesday-6 miles (Ryan)

Ryan ran at the gym at his school followed by a good lifting sessions. Then it was time to cheer on the Badgers during their upsetting loss to the Gophers. My legs were still sore today.

Thursday-6 miles (Both of Us)

His face says it all…treadmills are awesome. Awesome as in watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians with my wife.

We hit the gym today as it was too freezing outside to endure six miles (temps were below zero). It was not a fantastic run, but not terrible either. In all honesty, I am not totally confident I would have made it to the gym had it not been for Ryan. Having a training buddy is awesome. The time went by faster than I expected as I watched last week’s episode of The Good Wife on my iphone. Ryan still refuses music or specific TV reactions. What a weirdo! Or he is just significantly tougher than me. Probably the former.

Friday-3 miles (Sarah)
I took advantage of the warmest temperatures all week and ran after work. In a strange turn of events for Wisco winters, the temperatures actually increased throughout the day with the high temps occurring at 10:00 p.m. Even with warmer temps, the wind was fierce. After my run my muscle soreness returned. Very strange. I say very strange because I’ve never experienced random muscle soreness before. I also drank way more water than normal this week since purchasing my new water bottle. Staying hydrated is so important if you want to feel good while training. Take a fun bottle to work to encourage yourself to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Saturday-10 miles (Both of Us)

It was a familiar scene again…the gym and sore muscles (so weird). Ryan didn’t get home until 3:00, therefore we didn’t make it to the gym until 3:30, so we had to cut our run a mile short as the gym closed at 5:00. By the end I was so ready to be done. Outside runs are so much more interesting. My legs were very heavy and still sore so I didn’t mind. My quads felt like I had run a PR half marathon. I’ll spare you all the treadmill photos this week mostly because they shut off after an hour so I couldn’t capture a ten mile photo. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Sunday-Skiing date for 4 hours instead of a 3 mile run
Most my muscle soreness was gone today. Ryan’s heel was feeling great. With more winter weather advisories and windchill warnings starting in the p.m. we wanted to get outside. We decided to hit the slopes to cross train instead of our 3 mile run. Windy, but so worth it to enjoy winter outdoors. The only downside of the 20-25 mph winds was some of the slopes were icy. Not much you can do. It was great to get some fresh air before we are trapped inside for the next couple of days. Looking at the forecast over the U.S. some of you southerns are in for some cold and winter too. Stay warm!

Warming up and where I sit writing this week’s training post.

Ryan & Sarah’s Tip of the Week-Like a newbie, I totally forgot to put on Body Glide prior to our ten mile treadmill run. Like a newbie, oh wait he is, Ryan didn’t put Body Glide on his nipples. As I felt the familiar rub and burn of chaffing setting in around mile six or seven on the treadmill, I knew I had messed up. It was around this time that Ryan mentioned his sore nipples. As I stepped in the shower post-run the all too familiar sting set in. For long runs where you will sweat (for most of you this is all long runs, unless you too live in the frigid North) make sure to lube up any areas that rub. For me this is under my sports bra’s elastic band, sometimes between my thighs, and even my feet. For guys this includes your chest and nipples. Ryan also says his chest chafes more when it is unshaved, so I guess guys shave your chest, too. Hopefully that last sentence is never advice I’m having to give from experience! Body Glide has been my go to since my first marathon in 2008 and has yet to fail me when I remember to put it on.

Week 4 Mile Totals-
Ryan-22 miles
Sarah-25.25 miles

Stay warm everyone! Happy Training!

25Jan2014

{Don’t Act Your Age-30 Things During My 30th Year}

Posted in Uncategorized by sneaksandstilettos

My little sister and I way before “30” had any meaning or expectations.

This post has been sitting in my drafts since October. Since I’ve already started in on this list, it is definitely time to share it. I’m not getting any younger after all. For some reason I was a little afraid to share it as these thoughts are so personal and often seem so different from others. This post is simply my thoughts and not based on any person, event, or conversation I might have had with anyone. You might totally disagree with my thoughts, and that is fine. We all get to make our own choices in life, and this post shares a glimpse into how I want to live my life. In the spirit of this post and not acting my age-here goes.

I not sure what it is about turning 30 that has me wanting to be adventurous and try new things. When I was a kid I thought turning thirty meant you were old. It has always marked in my head when one really became an adult. I imagined I’d be married with children and acting a whole lot older than I do. The reality is that I don’t feel any older than I did ten years ago. I don’t have children because I’m having too much fun with my freedom and independence…except my cat who I do consider to be my first son.

I still love new experiences, being adventurous, and doing stupid things I should have learned not to do in the last ten years. I would rather spend money on an experience than save it for 35 years later when I might be dead. I still have the ignorant “it won’t happen to me” mindset far too often. I don’t always eat my vegetables. Sometimes I have too many drinks when I know it won’t feel good the next day. Just the other night after a couple of drinks with friends I put a giant temporary tattoo on my arm that took up my entire forearm just for fun. Sometimes I eat popcorn for dinner. How can I be turning 30?

Turning the big 3-0 doesn’t really scare me or freak me out; it is just a number after all. I’ve always believed you are only as old as you decide to be. There are no ages to do things at or not do them at. Yet at times I feel societies pressure to follow these often unwritten age rules. But why?? Why must this, this, and that happen by this age. Why should I be slowing down instead of speeding up? Who decides these things? Why are we supposed to start acting old?

Maybe it is more of that ignorance is bliss thing combined with the fact I don’t have kids, but I refuse to get old. I want to be young. By young, I mean alive, curious, full of wonder and wanderlust, and desire to fill my life with rich and rewarding experiences. I want to be a life-long learner and goal setter. I want to fight for my right to PaRtY!

As I get older in a numerical sense, I feel there are fewer and fewer people around me who don’t act their age. People sacrifice so many things in exchange for what they are supposed to have and for who they are supposed to be. I slowly see people give up on dreams, goals, or hopes because they say they are too old. Too this. Too that. But what we are is too afraid. Too worried about our age and how it looks to others. Too fearful of bad things that have held us back previously. Too set in our ways to do something differently. Too stuck on a path or plan to ever diverge. Now I ‘m not talking quit your job and move across the country (although if my husband ever said he would I would be tempted-but he NEVER would). I’m referring to letting adventure find me and not being so afraid of it when it does. To do the things I’ve said I want to do, but never have. To stop waiting for those experiences to find me, and instead create those moments for myself. To do more following of the Holstee Manifesto below.

I credit running for the most part for giving me a younger spirit that doesn’t want to think old. It has taught me in the past few years about how much I want to see the world, how unhappy I am with the mundane and average, how working hard rewards you in so many ways you can’t even begin to imagine. Running has shown me how age is just a number not a sentence, statement, or dictation of how to think, act, or feel. Seeing people in their 70’s and 80’s still running and living active lives inspires me everyday to do the same. And I’m talking LIVING people! These young souls are not home-bound and plagued by health ailments. Can I guarantee this won’t be me-obviously no. Can I guarantee you I won’t wait to find out-an astounding YES!

As I enter my 30th year on Earth, I want to remind myself that we only have this one life to make our own rules and follow our own dreams. In the end it doesn’t matter what society says. It’s your life! So many runners, moms, dads, and individuals out there DO inspire me because I see them going for it. Readers of this blog inspire me with their goals and dreams. They work hard to balance family, responsibility, and their dreams.

Besides being a list person, setting smaller dreams and goals gives us a sense of accomplishment while lighting that motivational fire under our arses. This year I want a list of 30 things to go for leading up to my birthday and in my 30th year, and I need your help. What are some ideas to add to my list in my journey to and during 30 years young? What cool experience did you make, see, do, explore, etc. I want a balance between the adventurous and the it’s-ok-to-have-a-calm-life.

Goals for 30th year
1) Race 30ish mile race (50k)
2) Skydive
3) get a tattoo
4) improve blog
5) become a trail runner
6) read 30 books (This will be hard for me as I usually read like 8 books a year…on a good year. Any suggestions?)
7) hike in natures beauty (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park)

8) visit Portland, Oregon
9) take a(nother) road trip
10) become a yogi or at least get committed to yoga/take classes
11) become a Marathon Maniac
12) go scuba diving
13) visit another country (plan to travel to Mexico with family)

14) visit ten (minimum) new state parks
15) cross at least two more states off my 50 in 50 list
16) try new foods (new ethnic eats)
17) Try 30 new to me beers
18) complete a century ride on trails (Perrot State Park to 400 Trail in Reedsburg)
19) get a massage-truth, I’ve never had one
20) go downhill skiing again-it’s been 7 years
21) complete a monthly photo challenge-I’ve got a ton saved, but have never done one

22) go ice skating again-it’s been 16 years
23) ride on a train
24) visit another baseball stadium
25)
26)
27)
28)
29)
30)

I still need six more ideas. I’m open to suggestions! Keep in mind these events will happen in the next 16 months, so I can’t fly to Mykonos, Greece or visit the Australian outback as much as I’d like to-unless your paying ;)! I want to make the next year about adventure, fun, and living life…not about a number!

Suggestions…Go!

24Jan2014

{Friday Fab 5-Baked Potato Soup, Sol, Slice of Chicago…}

Posted in Friday Fab 5 by sneaksandstilettos

I was having tech issues today hence the late post. Better late than never!

{#1-Baked Potato Slow Cooker Soup}

It is delicious! Seriously! The husband adds bacon to his!

{#2-Slice of Chicago aka Heaven}

Dinner with the family this week. If you live in the La Crosse, WI area check out this great local place!

{#3-New Water Bottle}

Perfect for the running science teacher!

{#4-Sol}

New beer tried in my quest to try 30 new beers in my 30th year. More on this challenge in a special post tomorrow.

{#5-Indoor Running}

Lots of indoor runs this week. BRRR. Who wants to move to Cali or Hawaii with me? The husband won’t.

Happy Friday!

20Jan2014

{Motivation Monday-Self-Discipline}

Posted in Motivation Monday by sneaksandstilettos

After lasts weeks loss with the running battle (read about it here), I am determined to get back on track this week. Success as a runner and in life requires overcoming challenges, time management, and determination. A lot of times this comes down to a little self-discpline.

This was the theme at school last week and ever since, it has been on my mind. How do you teach teens (and adults for that matter) to be self-disciplined? That things you wait for can be more rewarding? That the little choices you make all the time can become the big choices? I tend to think that runners have a lot of self-discipline, but where exactly does that come from? While we learn a lot of our self-discipline by watching others who have this skill, there are always those who lack those role models in their life and go on to be resilient human beings. While I ponder these questions and thoughts, there is one thing I’m certain-running builds self-discipline that carries over even outside your running shoes.

Last week was a testament to my temporary lack of self-discipline, however I think we are all allowed those weeks now and again. Having a bad week sometimes reminds me of why we do work hard for the things we want, sacrifice certain things in exchange for other things we want more, and find challenging tasks more rewarding than the easy. This week let’s be self-disciplined. Let’s work through the challenges of fitting miles into our calendar. Let’s push through the excuses so we might be proud of ourselves at weeks end. Stronger. More determined. Better able to face other challenges in our life. Let’s focus on what we want most, not what we want now. Closer to the goals we have that will be so sweet and rewarding to accomplish. Bring on the self-discipline.

Happy Monday!

19Jan2014

{Wisconsin Marathon Training-Week 3}

Posted in Wisconsin Marathon Training by sneaksandstilettos

I’m not going to sugar coat this week in terms of running. It wasn’t good, great, or impressive. I struggled to make myself run EVERY SINGLE DAY! I put in long days everyday this week (except Friday) of 11-12 hours trying to get stuff done at school that I needed/wanted to do. On top of that I felt sad, lazy, and like the only place I wanted to be was under a blanket by the fire place when I finally got home. I shamefully did not complete all my runs this week and missed my minimum weekly mileage goal by 2.5 miles (#wintermiles). I’m annoyed with myself-big time. With Ryan still out of commission I didn’t have any extra motivation to get those miles in. Excuses!

Ry guy’s heel this week.

Tuesday-(3 miles in 5+ inches of snow half the way) This run was extremely challenging the entire way. I tweaked my ankles running on uneven surfaces you couldn’t see. This led me to skip a run the next day. It was a great core workout though and fun to run in the fresh snow.

Wednesday-(5 miles elliptical) Ryan hit the gym and put in 5 miles on elliptical. While this is not replacement for running it has him doing something cardio wise.

Thursday-(5 miles-elliptical) Ryan on the elliptical

Friday-(6 miles-elliptical) Ryan again hit the gym and rocked the elliptical machine. I hit the bar with coworkers, rocked some pitchers of beer, and got a new temporary tattoo. I needed a mental break and simply some FUN! Plus, the black panther now on my arm is FIERCE!

Saturday-(8.5 miles-me running, 8 miles-Ryan on elliptical) This was a good run. I started out feeling cranky, but getting some vitamin D and seeing the beautiful sunset put me in a way better mood even though a total of 3 blocks were NOT snow covered. Seriously, who could get enough of sunsets like these.

Sunday-(6 miles) I was starving on this run, it was getting dark, and I just really wasn’t feeling it. I put this run off to spend time with the husband (good choice), but it did impact my run. Then I thought of Meg and her family, and I pushed through those miles.

Wearing blue for Meg. #megsmiles

Found this plastic bag with the contents inside of it scattered all over the road a quarter mile from my house. One of my biggest pet peeves is littering. GRRR. How hard is it to throw your trash into a garbage? I picked up the garbage, put it in the bag, and ran the rest of the way home.

Hydrating after my run with Tropical Nuun. Trying to think warm!

When reflecting on this week’s training, the reality is as much as I preach to not make weather excuses or wait for the perfect conditions (I do fully believe this), it is sometimes exhausting to be mentally tough during EVERY SINGLE RUN during winter in Wisconsin. There are very few to no clear roads. It is always slippery. It is cold. Snot freezes in your nose and sometimes onto your face. Eyelashes freeze. You step onto what you think is frozen ice and it ends up being a freezing puddle that comes up to your ankles (Sunday’s run ;). I say this not to complain, but just for all of you to see there is really nothing special about me and my training over the winter. I fight the same battles all of you winter runners do too. Some weeks we win the battle, while other weeks we lose.

Another training battle I always find myself in is the balance between having a social life and getting in my miles. As soon as running seems to put a kink in my fun plans, I start to resent it. This week with my funky mood, I did not put running first. I chose drinks after work on Friday with coworkers over freezing cold miles. Saturday I cut my run a mile short to go to dinner with the family. Sunday I ran later, when I was starving, and as a result didn’t run as many miles as I’d planned/hoped. That choice was in exchange for a day date with the husband. Sometimes we just have to acccept that the miles will be there later, but the people in our life might not be.

Chose this guy over getting in all my miles Sunday. Sunshine, coffee, and my love-always a good choice!

Reading the story about Meg on Sunday morning reminded me of the importance of people over miles. Her tragic story is the reason I pushed my run to later in the day so I could have a day date with the husband. Running and miles are important. Running doesn’t take more than it gives back. It makes you a better person. Yet despite all these wonderful things, sometimes we just need the people in our life more. I filled my cup this weekend with good people and miles. Even if those miles weren’t quite as high in number as planned, I’m better for the chance to both run and spend time with people I love. I strive for the perfect balance in life everyday. When I figure it out, you guys will be the first to know. Until then, we are all works in progress.

Losing the battle with running this week has renewed my determination for the upcoming weeks. I refuse to sit and feel bad about the missed miles. I can’t change them. The week is over. All I can do is work towards a better mileage week next week.

Ryan’s Total Miles on Elliptical-24 miles
Sarah’s Total Miles Running-17.5 miles

Ryan’s Tip of the Week: If you are injured while training, do other cross training that won’t aggravate or make your injury worse. I lifted three days this week and put in miles on the elliptical. Injury doesn’t mean stop training, it just means a different type of training.

Sarah’s Tip of the Week: Don’t play basketball when training for a marathon if you can’t not hurt yourself. Just kidding. My actual tip is…

Balancing social lives and running is never easy. Do your best to get all your runs on your training calendar in. The more you miss the more you risk not reaching your goals or finishing the distance you are working to complete. Do this consistently enough and you can forgive yourself some weeks when life gets in the way or you just need a mental break from the demands of training. A few missed runs or miles don’t mean you will fail, but try not to skip long runs-they are essential to marathon training. And remember when running is put against friends and family, sometimes the ones you love have to win!

Happy Running!

17Jan2014

{Friday Fab 5-Winter Rambles, Athleta, Campfire Treat…}

Posted in Friday Fab 5 by sneaksandstilettos

This whole working five days in a row thing…wow! I don’t even think I had a chance to breathe this week. As I write this post I’m very behind on my miles, so weekend warrior it is this weekend.

{#1-Weekend Warrior Runner in the Midwest Right Now}

This made me laugh out loud. One-it sometimes feels true. Two-I love A Christmas Story. You’ll shoot your eye out!

{#2-Winter Weather}

It has finally warmed up some, but that usually means lots of snow or sleet, or both! At least the trees looked pretty afterwards. Think about the positive!

{#3-Athleta}

Their newest catalog arrived in the mail this week. Paging through it had me smiling and excited page after page. Way to go, Athleta! Much improved on the style front. If you’ve never checked out Athleta before, definitely head over to their website to see what it is all about. I consider their workout gear a bit pricey, however after falling victim to Lululemonitis I’ll admit my price sense has been distorted. I’ve also learned, with the exception of Target C9 gear, you pay for what you get. Please steer me in the right direction if some of you have found other brands of running clothes that are cute, stylish, comfortable, and affordable. I’ve yet to do this with the exception of C9.

{#4-Made it to Thursday celebration}

Like I said…five full days of work with obligations after work each day-tough stuff! I do love it though!

{#5-Campfire Treat Candle}

Yumazing! There is something so comforting and make-you-smile-feel-good about this scent. Makes me think summer!

Hope you’ve all had a great week. Stay warm and stay tuned for Sunday’s Wisconsin Marathon Training Post-Week 3.

Happy Weekend!

13Jan2014

{Motivation Monday}

Posted in Motivation Monday by sneaksandstilettos

Start your week on the right foot. What are your weekly fitness goals? Plan ahead for your best chance at being successful this week. When will you do that workout? When will you run those miles. Don’t give life a chance to get in the way!

Training or not, I usually plan ahead what days I will run and rest. This increases my chance at getting those miles in and leaves less room for life to ruin my intentions. If you haven’t done this before, try it this week. Weeks like the one I have this week require special planning. With meetings and obligations everyday after school this week, I have to plan my workouts wisely. It’s far too easy to get home and say you don’t feel like working out. If you planned on it all day and week, then your less likely to break the commitment to yourself.

Make your health a priority this week and every week.

Happy Monday!

12Jan2014

{Wisconsin Marathon Training-Week 2}

Posted in Wisconsin Marathon Training by sneaksandstilettos

Welcome to week two! The weather was so strange. Monday to Sunday it warmed up 70 degrees…-30 to 40. Crazy! This week we ran inside, in sleet/snow mix, and the heat wave 40’s. Here was the breakdown.

Monday-3 Miles on the treadmill

No school this day and no gym membership for me. Gyms usually have a daily fee like my husband’s. The $5 fee was so worth the run.

Tuesday-5 miles on the treadmill

Ditto with school and the gym. Five more well spent bucks!

Wednesday-Ryan bruises heel while playing league basketball. No more runs for him this week. This led to a conversation about getting out of training by hurting yourself. Way to soon for that. He was bummed and has on his own decided to limit the other sports he plays competitively while training. He will continue to lift, but realized throwing hard earned miles away for a game of bball is not worth it.

Friday-5 miles outside. It was freezing rain/snow mix. The ground was getting slippery, but it was 30 degrees. There was no way I was missing that opportunity. I came back soaked, but high on endorphins.

#midwestrunnerproblems Snow kept getting packed in my shoes!

Saturday-Was supposed to run 3 miles, but with school work, a gazillion errands, and Ryan’s work Christmas party I just didn’t get it in so I moved it to Sunday.

Sunday-Combined 3 miles from yesterday and 6 mile run scheduled for today=9 miles outside. It was 40 and felt amazing. The temps that is. I ate way too much popcorn while watching a movie with the significant other before my run. Around miles 4 and 5 I thought I was going to throw up for sure. Today would be another day of doing something for the first time-puking while running.

I slowed my pace, took a stretch break, and kept it down. I was so close to quitting because I felt that nauseous, but I kept reminding myself that sometimes feeling better is only a mile or two away. Too often runners quit when they have only a mile or two to get over it. Obviously if you are truly sick or injured this is a bad idea. I wasn’t. Miles 6-9 were much better. I did feel really tired after my run and have basically relaxed the evening away.

Ryan’s Tip of the Week-Be careful what sports you cross train with. Putting in lots of miles and work training for a marathon can be lost with an injury from another sport. Choose your other sports carefully.

Sarah’s Tip of the Week-Some miles of a run may be hard, but don’t make the mistake of quitting right away. Try pushing through because the miles coming up might actually feel better. My long run was the perfect example this week. Miles 1-4 felt good, miles 4-6 wanted to barf, miles 6-9 felt good again. Feeling good again may only be a mile away (sung to the tune of Annie of course).

Total Weekly Miles-22 miles

Happy Running!

10Jan2014

{Friday Fab 5…North Face, Wild, Brrr…}

Posted in Friday Fab 5 by sneaksandstilettos

Short and sweet this week folks…

{#1-North Face ad}

The ad is only 30 seconds long, but it is so where my heart is these days. The mountains are calling. It’s as if North Face wrote this add to me directly. Nice job ad women and men! #neverstopexploring

{#2-Brrr…}

I know everyone is sick of talking about the weather, but SERIOUSLY. It is really dang cold outside. Freezing temps means buying day passes to run at the gym. So looking forward to the heat wave this weekend-30’s!

{#3-Wild-From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed}

I finally read Catching Fire so the husband can stop getting on my case three times a day-minimum! I liked it, but didn’t love it. Much better than the first. What I am loving right now is Wild. I started this Tuesday and stayed up too late on a school night. Something about Strayed’s voice and story sucked me in right away. Back cover in a sentence–> Strayed had lost everything so she decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (Cali to Oregon) alone (with no training) and finds healing along the way. Love so far.

{#4-Asparagus Delight}

from miracleskinny drops.com

A super simple recipe we enjoyed this week for making a delish side of two of my favorite veggies.

{#5-Winter Miles Challenge}

If you haven’t joined yet, it is not too late. Joined and had a rough week? Work got you down? Cold temps=excuses this week? You still have this weekend to make up those winter miles. Get after it.

Happy Weekend!

6Jan2014

{Motivation Monday-Winter Miles Challenge}

Posted in Motivation Monday by sneaksandstilettos

We all know winter running is a challenge, so why not make a challenge out of it. With snow, ice, wind, and wind chill warnings in my area, we need all the support and encouragement we can get from each other. Run with Jess knows this so she created this amazing challenge that will keep you sticking to your running goals, and give you the chance to win awesome running prizes each week you reach your goal. Click the button on the bottom of my sidebar anytime to get more information or click the link here (http://www.runwithjess.com/2013/12/winter-miles-challenge-2014.html#.Usb6Cij440M).

The winter miles challenge lets you set your own goal based on your current level of fitness. Maybe you are new to running or just coming back from an injury, then ten miles a week would be a great goal. Maybe you are in ultra marathon running shape and 50 miles a week is your goal. The point is YOU decide how far you want to push yourself during the weeks of January 6th-March 2 (often the most challenging times to stay motivated in the midwest). Sign up to run at least 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 miles a week. Each week you will post your mileage. If you reach your goal you will be entered to win that weeks running related prize. Prizes include things like Yak Traks, compression socks, jewelry, and more!

I signed up last Friday! Will you join me? You have nothing to lose. Come on and let’s run some winter miles with Run with Jess! How to dress for those miles? Check out my post about what to wear on winter runs .

Happy Monday!