This Summer I Will...

Hello Friday! I don't know about you, but it has been a super busy week. Planning the National Running Day 5K event (recap here) kept me literally running around at times, and last night I presented an award at the Scholastic Banquet.

I really like the theme from Cynthia, Courtney, and Mar for Friday Five again this week so I'm putting my summer goals/wish list out there for all of you to see.

This summer I will….

Try Standup Paddleboarding at Hampton Beach - I bought a voucher for me & mrC through Living Social. We live so close to the beach and I have been wanting to try SUP, so this was a deal I couldn't pass up.

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Tone up with a TI Fitness Summer Pass - I'm thinking I should get this unlimited classes deal and make SurfSet my go-to workout on non-running days. The studio is downtown and some of the classes are done outside at a park or even on the rooftop.

Work my Booty Barre - Groupon had a great deal for my favorite studio and with summer right around the corner, my schedule will allow me more time to get to these classes.

Swim and Bike at least once a week -  I love to swim in pools, but we don't have a pool. We do have a pond and beach nearby, so I'm going to make use of it this summer. We live on a main road, so bike riding can be intimidating. As long as I have company, I'll be able to get the bike out there. Or maybe take my bike to a nicely paved bike path with ocean views…that would work too!

Climb Seneca Rocks?? - I'll be visiting a friend in West Virginia and she suggested that we do some climbing. Of course I was agreeable, but after doing some research I'm hoping there is an option that doesn't involve ropes and harnesses!

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What are your summer goals?

Be sure to check out the other Friday Five posts!

National Running Day at GHS!

Yesterday the school community came together as a running community to celebrate National Running Day.

It started about a week ago with displays in the Information Center that showcased running photos, medals, and all the reasons Why [We] Run!

We wore our running shirts like we did last year.

We donated our old shoes to the local running store recycling program.

After school teachers and students gathered together for a 5K run on the local trail.

At the finish line everyone enjoyed the ZOOMA Ambassador goodies from Cytomax and Muscle Milk and a few prizes from Sweaty Bands, Ultimate Direction, and Mizuno.

How did you celebrate National Running Day?

Training Truths: 4 Ways to Stay Motivated

Last week mrC left for ground school and will be gone for three weeks. One of the hardest parts about having him gone is facing run days and still getting myself out the door...alone.

Tuesday - Beyond the fact that mrC wasn't around, there were lots of reasons I was tempted to put off this run: questionable weather, busy day at work, hunger...but I changed into running clothes and that helped get me out the door. Even though my legs felt heavy, I'm happy with my run and excited that my fast last mile streak continued one more run! (9:24, 9:09, 9:15, 8:55)

Thursday - Considered putting this run off until Friday until I saw the weather forecast. Running on a gorgeous day is far better than in a downpour, even if I was tired. While my legs were not happy with the hills, my final speedy mile streak continued! (9:18, 9:02, 9:27, 9:00). I felt so good after that I even did some planks (it's been awhile).

Saturday - After a fitful night's sleep, I woke up feeling sluggish. Worried I would be struggling at SurfSet, I drank some VEGA Sport Sugar-Free Energizer to help boost my energy for a better performance. It was just what I needed for an awesome workout.

Saturday - I cannot resist a run on the beautifully paved Manchester Trail, so even though I was running low on energy after SurfSet, I knew that the scenery of the trail would perk me up. Despite a major blunder when I paused my watch at a light and forgot to restart it, I was happy with my pace - even if my last mile wasn't super speedy this time (9:23, 9:23, 9:25, 9:11, 10:49, 9:37).

What quirky tricks do you use to keep yourself motivated?

Five Gym Bag Summer Must Haves

As the seasons change, so do the items in my gym bag. After recently having skin cancer surgery, what goes in my bag takes on a whole new importance as the summer weather arrives.

1. Sunscreen - Even on overcast days, I'm wearing it. I love Neutrogena and use it on my body and the baby face formula on my face.
2. Headband - I use headbands for any workout. They keep my sweaty hair out of my sweaty face. A lot of my favorites are from Sweaty Bands.
3. Hat - Protecting my face from the sun is so much more important to me now. One of my favorites is from Athleta.
4. Water Bottle - I carry water or Cytomax on nearly all my runs, especially in the warmer weather. My Simple Hydration bottle makes it so easy to access my drink, but stay hands-free.
5. Sunglasses - Not my favorite running accessory, but another layer of sun protection. I received a pair of Under Armour Marbella to review a couple of months ago and I love them.


What's in your gym bag for the summer?

Today I'm linking up with the hosts of Friday Five: Cynthia, Courtney, and Mar. 

Training Truths: Back On My Feet

By now, you have probably heard about Mizuno's new campaign to get people running and support the Back On My Feet program at the same time. If not, here are the basics: Download the Mizuno Baton App and use it on your runs. For every mile that you run during a one week window, Mizuno will donate $1 to Back On Your Feet.

Now every run means even more.

Tuesday - Beautiful 4 mile trail run after school. Managed my pace better and finished with a 8:56 final mile.

Thursday - With questionable weather looming, I opted to do my 4 mile run from home instead of school. It turned out that I beat the rain and finished with another awesome final mile at 8:41! Then I hung out with the boys.

Saturday - My first workout of the day was SurfSet where we really worked our upper body. Now I'll know what's in store when the instructor says to grab two sets of weights.

(note: I am whimpy, so my weights are very light!)

The weather on Saturday was again questionable, so instead of running downtown after SurfSet, I came home. Hoping for better weather on Sunday for a long run, I chose to do a virtual 5K and used a tempo mix from RockMyRun. It wasn't a good tempo run, but I had another awesome last mile (9:22, 9:44, 8:47).

Sunday - No surprise that I woke up a little stiff from Saturday's SurfSet, but to loosen up I did a 10 minute ab workout (from Comcast on-demand, who knew?) and then loved on my foam roller. After selecting the Run Chat Fan Mix by RockMyRun as my pace music, I set out for a six miler that turned out way better than I expected. I'm happy with my overall pace, but even happier with my splits because for once I'm not all over the place. Mile 4 was a continuous climb that started with a steep 150' gain over about 350 yards. And of course I love that my last mile was once again my fastest.

Do you dedicate your runs?