2014 Race Awards

Every year I like to look back on my running and fitness and reflect on what I accomplished, what I loved, and make new goals. It's always fun to reminisce while putting together an end of the year blog post. 

This year I am linking up with Montana from Pretty Lil Mudder as we dish out some end of the year race awards. My race schedule was cut short due to my injuries and I ran fewer races than previous years, but there were still plenty of races to talk about.

Most Scenic Course - Newport Half Marathon 

There are miles of ocean views like this along the first 6-ish miles of the Newport Half Marathon course. After that you get a couple of miles on mansion views. It's beautiful.

Most Challenging Course - ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon

This race has a very hilly second half. It's a challenge for most runners but my various leg injuries made this one the most challenging course of the year.

Best Expo - ZOOMA Cape Cod

It's not the size, but the attention to details that earns ZOOMA this one. They have great merchandise from sponsors and local vendors, but they also create a personalized experience. Take photos, attend presentations, meet the race founders. Just some little things like that.

Best Post-Race Food/Beverages - Kickoff to Summer 5K

Post race food that is mostly homemade treats or healthy fruit choices win the honors here. It's not elaborate or fancy, but it is always so good.

Best Swag - ZOOMA Cape Cod 

Packing my new @feeturesrunning performance socks from my @zoomarun race swag for tomorrow's after school run. #ZOOMAnation #zoomacapecod #fitgear

A photo posted by AmyC (@runningescapades) on Sep 9, 2014 at 5:56pm PDT

ZOOMA swag included the race tech shirt, a hat and the normal samples, but it was the Feetures! socks that made this swag a real treat.

Most Unique Medal - First Run 5K

I have accumulated three of them now, but the famous wine stopper medal will always be the most unique to me.

Favorite Race Shirt - Newport 10 Miler

Although this race shirt is a cotton tee, I love the simple design and color choice. If it was a moisture wicking material, I know I would run in it. For now it's one of my cozy, lazy day picks.

Favorite Overall Race - TI Disco Fever 10K

Growing up, I was a big fan of disco music. Even though I don't usually dress up for races, this one was too fun not to join in.

Best Course Support - Ragnar Relay Cape Cod

We didn't all run together like in the picture until the finish line, but it felt like we had been the whole race. Besides leap-frogging our runners on the course, nothing compares to hearing "Go runner" shouted to you from nearly every passing vehicle while you run.

Race You Are Most Proud of Yourself for Completing - Half at the Hamptons

For about a month leading up to this race, I was dealing with knee pain, that I now know was my torn meniscus, so I had no idea if I was going to be able to finish or not. My stepdaughter and I joined forces to finish this one using a run/walk plan and we did it.

Tell me about your 2014 races. Pick a category from the list or make one of your own.

This post is also part of the Fitness Friday link up hosted by Jill.

Flock Workout

With the arrival of winter at Thanksgiving, I've had to take my workouts inside.

The Oiselle Pros are doing the same and recently shared some of their favorite workouts. I don't have all the fitness equipment that they do, so I made some modifications to create my own no-equipment needed Flock Workout.

This workout combines exercises that focus on the abs and legs, but it doesn't leave out the cardio.

Tadas: Otherwise known as "plank with twist" or "plank and rotate." Dynamic planks are reported to be more effective and mimic the natural movements of our core during running.

Jumps: Squeezed in between the core work, the three jump exercises seriously get the heart rate up. By the time I got to the jump overs, I was very winded.

Spiderman Planks: Planking while being out of breath is much harder, but I like that challenge.

My warmup and cool down was a brisk 5 minute walk on the treadmill. In the near future (hopefully), I will run.

This workout is good for anytime of year, but it's especially good to use during the #HolidaySweat challenge!

It's time for another #FitnFashionable share! One thing I love about fitness gear is when it is easy to transition from exercise to everyday function. For this workout I chose Oiselle flyte shorts and a stripey scoop neck with the flyte shimmel racerback underneath. After a workout I can throw on a pair of jeans or casual pants and I'm ready to relax or run errands with some #flystyle.

Do you wear your fitness gear outside of your workouts?

 This post is also part of the #FitnessFriday link up hosted by Jill.

Powerless Thanksgiving - Shake It Off

mrC had a trip on Wednesday and when I heard the forecast for heavy snow, I should've known that the power was going to go out. It rarely happens when he is home. As pretty as it is to see the snow stuck to all the trees, it's a serious bummer when the trees fall or break on the power lines.

Original pic from Allie

I normally tough it out in the house with our small generator and as many small appliances as I can plug in, but not this time. This time I grabbed the dog and the credit card and checked into a local Holiday Inn. 

So instead of being surrounded by family on Thanksgiving, I found myself surrounded by fitness machines. 

When the power went out, I was not a happy camper. After walking by the fitness center a few times, I decided that I needed to shake it off. It was the perfect place to earn a little #holidaysweat workout challenge points.

I started my workout with a 20 minute ride on the stationary bike. I do not use fitness machines often (ever) besides our own treadmill, so I really had no idea what I was doing. I choose a calorie burn workout with a max level of 7. OMgoodness. It was HARD and I was seriously sweaty.

Next I jumped on the elliptical. On this one I selected a 20 minute cardio workout. Loved it. I felt like I was running. The best part was my mom FaceTimed me during the workout. She thought I was an awesome heavy breather, haha.

At the end of the 40 minutes, the smile was back and I was feeling better. Can you blame me? Look at the calories I shook off.

After my workout, I leashed up the dog for his workout. We walked for about a mile.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Did you get in a workout?

Fit Friday: Holiday Sweat Challenge + #FFTriumph

One thing I have learned over the last couple of weeks is that I need to work on my overall strength, especially if I want to run injury-free. To do that I need to stay focused whether I am running or not.

So, in a couple of weeks I will be starting my first Holiday Sweat Challenge with Amanda from Run to the Finish. You might recognize the name since I have been a fan and sharing Amanda's workouts on the blog now and then.

Disclosure: I received the SweatPink Ambassador discount

I joined this challenge for three reasons:

It's a six week challenge. Six weeks of getting motivated and staying focused…right through the holidays when it can be the hardest time to stay focused. 

It has two things that seriously motivate me: a friendly and supportive COMPETITION and there are PRIZES up for grabs!  

I'll get personalized workouts to match my fitness level.

I can't wait to get started!

#FFTriumph

On another note, my TFL test run yesterday before my PT appointment was not as perfect as I would have liked. I was hoping to have a big write up about how fabulous my two mile run with Run Club was a fitness triumph, but sadly, the post-run TFL pain returned by the time I made it to Dr. Bri's office.  

And that's how I ended up on the no-running list again.

Despite the injury plagued year I've been having, I am determined to get better and get back to running asap. Let life outside my running comfort zone begin.

It's frustrating being injured and only able to run 2 miles, but I'll never stop! It just feels too good. #fftriumph #FitFluential #TeamWR #WRWhyIRun

A photo posted by AmyC (@runningescapades) on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:27pm PST

What are your holiday sweat plans?

What was your latest fitness triumph? Have you entered the FitFluential November challenge?

Fabulous Friday

I admit that when I'm not running, I'm moody, cranky, irritable. Running is my way of shaking off the crazy, after all.

It hasn't been easy, enduring another week of no running, but here's some fabulous-ness that has helped keep my mind off of the negative.

ZOOMA Ambassadors starring in a Feetures! video

ZOOMA Cape Cod registration discount codes

Oiselle #FlyStyle gear distractions

TFL is finally chill-laxing! I might be able to run next week!!

Tell me something fabulous about your Friday!!

Fitness Friday: Fall Favorites

To kick off the month of October, it seemed appropriate to share some new fitgear that I am loving right now. One of my favorite things to do is to shop through the end of season sales and check out what's new from my favorite brands.

Here's what I got my hands on recently:

Oiselle NEW Distance shorts - Just as comfortable as the "old" distance shorts, I love the new design on the side. These shorts offer the perfect amount of coverage without a lot of bulky material, and still provide the functional front zipper pocket.

Athleta Idyllwild Hoodie - I love snuggling up in a sweatshirt on cold days, but I hate the bulk of the  typical sweatshirt. Athleta designs the perfect mix of cozy and lightweight, and it feels very feminine.

Feetures! performance socks - I started wearing these when my former favorites became extinct. Just like with my sweatshirts, I want comfy socks without being bulky.

What fitness gear are you loving this season?

Fitness Friday: Active Nation Day

Active Nation Day is a movement created by Lorna Jane to help women live and celebrate an active lifestyle. On Sunday, LJ will be hosting events all over the world, where sporty women can take part. 

I love the Move, Nourish, Believe message that Lorna Jane promotes. Earlier in the year I participated in a challenge that focused on this message and inspired us to keep pursuing our goals for the year. You can catch up on the posts here, here, and here. I will be participating in the Active Nation Day MOVEment from Cape Cod where I will be enjoying an active recovery day after running the ZOOMA Half Marathon. 

How can you get in on the fitness fun? 

• Learn more by stopping by the Active Nation Day website. 

• Download the LJ app on your smart phone (iPhone and Android). The app is a 3-in-1 resource for keeping track of how you MOVE, finding delicious ways to NOURISH your body, and being inspired to BELIEVE in yourself.

• Learn the #LJMove by watching this video:

• Then join the Insta-fun by sharing a photo or video of yourself doing it. Be sure to tag it @LornaJane @FitApproach #LJMove #sweatpink #activenationday so we can cheer on your Insta-dance moves!
• Did I mention you could win a $1000 Lorna Jane gift card by posting your #LJMove video on Instagram? 

The LJ app is a great way keep track of your movement on Active Nation Day (and everyday), but I
love the daily inspiration. 

How will you MOVE on Active Nation Day?

Packing Fitness Fun in Newport

We usually spend multiple weekends in Newport, but this busy summer had us going during the week. When visiting the city by the sea, one thing I love to do is pack fitness into our days. So in addition to the traditional activities we've become accustomed to, we also tried some new ones.

Before heading out of town, I packed my bags with everything I would need for our fitness fun. My Athleta swimsuit did double duty at the beach (w/ JCrew cover-up) and kayaking (w/ Athleta shorts & Corey Vines racerback). My favorite Old Navy shorts and tank with my BR sweater kept me comfortable on the boat. Oiselle, Athleta, Nike and Mizuno completed my run outfits.

First we met some of my in-laws for an afternoon of sailing and motor boating. This requires absolutely no work from me (other than carrying the boat bag), but my sunrise run completed first thing in the morning allowed me to remain guilt-free while mrC worked the boat.

Every October, Newport hosts a marathon, half marathon, and 5K. This year mrC and I will be running the half marathon, so when planning where to run our 7 miler it only seemed natural to run along the marathon course that ends at Second Beach. It's a hilly route, but the gorgeous ocean views and dream homes help take our minds off the inclines. It's also delightful to relax on the beach afterwards.

The map below is from RunGo, an app that gives you turn by turn directions using GPS. Since I don't wear earbuds (just a wrist wallet from Sprigs) I missed the call out for a horse shoe turn after the turn-around and the app didn't really respond well. Trust me, I cannot run across water!

I see people kayaking in Newport all the time and this summer I decided to try it. Although I was feeling brave, I wasn't brave enough to take out my own kayak. Two things worried me: boats making wake and tipping me over and jellyfish. So mrC and I rented a two person kayak. Once we were in the kayak and moving, I mostly forgot about my fears and focused on keeping my arms moving. Five minutes in and I was tired! It was an intense upper body workout, but super fun.

One of our favorite places to run is right on the base. There is an unpaved, mostly flat path that loops the base offering awesome views of the Narragansett Bay and Pell Bridge. I tried to map out a 4 mile loop using the RunGo app, but the app closed when I hit save (and of course it didn't save the route).

You can't visit Newport without taking the 10 mile drive. Instead of driving, we took a bike ride along Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue. The roads are bike friendly and there are oodles of places to stop and explore. I don't know why we didn't do it sooner!

We always love taking road trips to Newport, but this visit was just about perfect. Between the beautiful weather, the gorgeous views, and the fun fitness activities, we didn't want to leave!

Do you have a favorite road-trip destination?

Island Line Trail Run & Ride

Summer is the best time to take a road trip and explore new places. Even though I have lived in New England for six years, there is still plenty for me to see. Recently mrC took me on a weekend getaway to Burlington, Vermont complete with running and biking.

The weather was predicted to be perfect for packing up a few of my summer running favorites, along with my running gear essentials.

Oiselle Lesko bra, Athleta Record Time Run shorts, Nike Racerback,
Mizuno Wave Paradox, Simple Hydration Waterbottle, and Nike GPS Sportwatch

Burlington has a really nice bike trail system that runs north and south of the city that is also perfect for running. I chose Airport Park as our starting point because it offers free parking, rest rooms, and easy access to the trailhead that heads north along the historic causeway. We got a later start than we had hoped, so the 8 mile run was warm. It took about 1.5 miles to actually reach the causeway which was disappointing, but not for long. The views of Lake Champlain were amazing. We followed the Island Line Trail until we reached the Bike Ferry and turned around.

Wanting to be ready for anything, I threw together a mix of items for the bike ride along the waterfront.

Old Navy Tank, J.Crew shorts, VS bikini, Athleta No Rush Hoodie,
FlipBelt, Saucony Bullet Vegans

This time we hopped on the bike trail at North Beach Park and rode south into downtown Burlington. Once again we had gorgeous weather and spectacular views for an amazing 10 mile ride. Along the way we watched an Army rescue training session and even sat in a Blackhawk helicopter. I learned the story behind Champy, the Vermont equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster and watched a little of the US Women's Dragon Boat time trials.

Where did your last road trip take you? 

Fitness Friday: Stand Up Paddle-boarding

At the beginning of the summer I put Stand Up Paddle-boarding on my summer-to-do list (here) and last week mrC and I headed to Hampton Beach to make it happen.

Since our appointment wasn't until 1PM, we decided to start our day at the beach with a 3 mile run. I could run everyday looking at views like this.

After having lunch and relaxing at the beach, we walked over to Hampton Parasail and Stand Up Paddle. The business operates out of a small building on the harbor across from the beach.

After checking in, we picked out life vests, prepped the boards, and then carted them to the cove where we would spend our one hour lesson.

The one hour lesson began right away. We put the boards in the shallow water and climbed on getting into a kneeling position first. After a couple of minutes using the paddles, our instructor guided us into the standing position. She showed us how to manage the waves and use the paddles to make a turn. She also had us practice kneeling down and standing back up in the deeper water. We followed her around the cove and on a little adventure under a couple of piers.

Then we were on our own.

Besides being super fun, Stand Up Paddle-boarding is a great workout:

Arms - carting the boards to the beach, paddling

Core - balancing on the board, paddling

Legs - squats while going under the piers

I'm confident that all our urban surfing at SurfSet classes (see my review here) helped us with our balance on the boards.

What do you think about Stand Up Paddle-boarding?