Refocusing.....

Good Morning!  How can it be Monday already.....  weekends go by too fast!

Hope your Monday is off to a good start.  Despite morning coming too fast, I woke up 5 minutes before my alarm!  Getting up wasn't too hard since I woke up on my own.  

First up, Kettlebell!

We did as much work as possible in each 3 minute round. Repeat the entire workout twice!

Round 1
Double Swings x 5
Double Front Squats x 5

Round 2
Turkish Get Up + Snatch x 2 per side

Round 3
See-Saw Press x 5 per side
Suitcase Lunges x 5 per side

Round 4
Double Clean + Press x 5
Double Static Rows x 5 per side

Yep that woke me up!  

Any time you do double bells it take it out of you. 

I was primarily using two 20lb bells, couple of times I switched to 16lb ones.  

After class I was hungry hungry hungry!!

BREAKFAST

-Kashi H2H, plain greek yogurt, blueberries, ground flax, little mixed berry jam and almond butter

I also packed up my lunch.

-Salmon & chickpea salad w/ olive oil mayo & dill, peas and tomatoes
I am a bit frustrated with the mileage I logged last week, I need to stick to my training plan more.  Life seems to be getting in the way to much... I just have a lot going on right now.  I think I'm in that training mid-point where you need to really focus and recommit yourself to finishing what you started.  

Marathon training is a huge commitment and I think sometimes I don't truly appreciate all that it requires.  It doesn't intimidate me as much as it used to, which is good but I also need to appreciate what my body is capable of and what it needs out of my training.  I need to put that mileage in and do so in a gradual way so that I don't injure myself.  

How do you recommit yourself to your goals?  Do you write them down again, tweak or reformulate your game plan... Seek the advice of others?  Find inspiration in others?

Happy Monday!

Britt

Staying Flexible.....

Happy Monday.... so soon it comes.  

So last week was not stellar as far as sticking to my training schedule, however I'm not really one to get freaked out about that.  You have to be flexible.  You have a life and you do the best you can to get your planned workouts in, if not you do what you can and hope the next week goes better.  This philosophy has worked out fairly well for me in the 11 marathons I have completed.  It does help when I'm a bit more focused on my long runs & speed work, I think that is what helped me finally break 4 hours. 

So far this week is off to a good start, I'm feeling motivated after yesterdays 14 mile run.  I was up and out at 6am for Kettlebell, before heading out I grabbed a handful of Kashi Heart to Heart and some water. 

This mornings class was a good one for a Monday... no counting.... just going for time.  

1 minute of each w/ a 1 minute rest at the end, repeat 5 times

One Arm Swings

Split Squats

Slingshot

Presses

Weighted Squats

After repeating 5 times then we did planks

1 minute basic plank

10 situps

1 minute alternating hip to ground plank

10 situps

1 minute side planks, change sides mid way through

10 situps

After all that I headed home to a tall cold one....

After shower and getting ready for work, my usual favorite was calling me.

-kashi heart to heart, oikos greek yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, almond butter... oops forgot the ground flax!

Today is going to be a busy one!!  Will probably be at work late and then I have a meeting at 6pm that is looking like it will be LONG.... blech.  Glad I got my workout in this morning!

Have a great day!

Britt

14 Weeks till the NYC Marathon!!!!

I better start hunkering down and get my training on, huh?

I've been trying to keep my milegage up since Boston and the Sugarloaf Marathon earlier this year, but its so hard in the summer months! There are so many distractions and of course the heat & humidity.

So many people are amazed by how much I am out running during the winter and early spring, but I actually perfer training in that weather. If its freezing or even below zero, just add more layers. If its snowing or sleeting, just wear a shell and the layers underneath.

Summer, you can only shed so much and I have to carry that much more water with me. I have definitely had some not so fun moments on long runs where I did not plan well and ran out of water.... I went searching for any place to fill up my fuel belt.... a school, a nursing home, anything that might have water available. I think that is why one of my favorite places to run is along the ocean.... temperatures are a bit more moderate and there are several bath houses along the way with water fountains......Plus I love the scenery!

So this weeks training schedule....
Monday- kettlebell
Tuesday- 6 miles, easy pace
Wednesday- kettlebell
Thursday- 5 miles, including a 3 mile tempo run around 7:30 pace
Friday- 5 miles and kettlebell
Saturday-off
Sunday- 10 miles, easy pace

I'll food blog later. :)