Morning folks. Hope your week has started off well. Starting off with a lot of nothing- we have had yet another huge dump of snow over the weekend. At least 6 inches of soft, fluffy snow. When is it ever going to end? Temperature this morning was -24 Celcius with wind on top of that. In Manitoba, Canada, we certainly have 4 distinct seasons. With winter taking it's time going elsewhere, I fear we will miss another season yet to come. Well, enough with the complaints on something out of our control.
Now getting to the little of something- we are running away. Really, the family is packing into the vehicle and driving off this afternoon. We are going in search of spring, to have a break from the cold, snow and routine. There wasn't really any plan to do so as hockey was going to keep us busy but with the loss of a game that put us out of the finals, we are free to go. Our destination isn't set but we are sure we will end up in the state of California. The kids and I have no school next week so we will have about 10 days. I will keep you posted about our adventures!
In conclusion, I want to motivate you with a few lyrics of a song that has really moved me the past while. Catch My Breath by Kelly Clarkson empowers me to push beyond my comfort zone, to keep my confidence and push my limits to stay on track with my goals.
"No one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that"
"Won't let em get me down, It's all so simple now"
Don't allow anything to keep you from pursuing what is important in your life. Not busyness, people, things, or yourself!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Oatmeal and cake
Good morning! It is so great that it is Saturday, and a semi free one at that.
My day started with a run because this was my view
and this was the temperature.
Yep treadmill run. That's what I thought also. It just seemed like too much for me mentally today to do a long run (13-15 miles) in those temperatures with the wind on top of that. Getting soft I am.
Come on Spring, show your face. Pretty please with a cherry on top.
Well if spring isn't coming yet to us, we might go looking for it. More to come about this in another post.
Going 14.5 miles on the treadmill has been my longest mill run to date. I am just preparing myself for another long run on the treadmill because, though I think the temperature will improve, I'm not counting on it. This time last year, the river that is behind our house was flowing already and the snow mostly gone. Nothing has even started MELTING yet.
After my run and shower, I had a great bowl of oatmeal, my main breakfast staple . I don't tend to be too hungry after a long run. The next day is a different story. I wanted to share a recipe that I add to my oatmeal each day.
Oatmeal Power Plus
2 cups chia (can use either light or dark)
2 cups hemp hearts
2 cups buckwheat ( I put mine in a coffee grinder for just a few pulses to get smaller chunks)
1/2 cup ground flax
2 tsp cinnamon
1-2 cups dried cranberries, cherries or blueberries
Mix all ingredients together and store in glass jar.
To use: 1/3 cup of oatmeal, 3 Tbsp of power mixture then about 2 cups of water (I put mine in the microwave for 3 min at med power then add Udo's oil and almond milk)
I love this mixture because it adds more punch to my oatmeal and gives me a whole lot more energy. Try it out and let me know what you think.
I am without a doubt very challenged in the creative area when it comes to certain things. I struggle with fashion styles, home interior decorating (most of my walls are still picture-less after 10 years, ouch) and just generally making things look put together. That is why I am so proud of my assisting efforts with this:
A diaper cake- about 120 diapers with socks, spoons, rattle, blanket, soother, stuffed teddy, bib, washcloth and anything else that caught our eye.
Pretty cool I thought. My youngest daughter is taking a babysitting course with 4 other girls and today the group is going for their first lesson since the instructor had a baby 3 weeks ago. My daughter and I thought they should have a baby shower for her so we invited her friends over yesterday and made a cake. Not the edible kind but such a sweet smelling kind. Brought back way too many memories. I saw the baby girl when I dropped my daughter off and she sure is a sweetheart. Now, I giggle to myself as I think of 5, 11 year olds having a baby shower. Kinda cool.
What is your favourite addition to oatmeal?
My day started with a run because this was my view
and this was the temperature.
Yep treadmill run. That's what I thought also. It just seemed like too much for me mentally today to do a long run (13-15 miles) in those temperatures with the wind on top of that. Getting soft I am.
Come on Spring, show your face. Pretty please with a cherry on top.
Well if spring isn't coming yet to us, we might go looking for it. More to come about this in another post.
Going 14.5 miles on the treadmill has been my longest mill run to date. I am just preparing myself for another long run on the treadmill because, though I think the temperature will improve, I'm not counting on it. This time last year, the river that is behind our house was flowing already and the snow mostly gone. Nothing has even started MELTING yet.
After my run and shower, I had a great bowl of oatmeal, my main breakfast staple . I don't tend to be too hungry after a long run. The next day is a different story. I wanted to share a recipe that I add to my oatmeal each day.
Oatmeal Power Plus
2 cups chia (can use either light or dark)
2 cups hemp hearts
2 cups buckwheat ( I put mine in a coffee grinder for just a few pulses to get smaller chunks)
1/2 cup ground flax
2 tsp cinnamon
1-2 cups dried cranberries, cherries or blueberries
Mix all ingredients together and store in glass jar.
To use: 1/3 cup of oatmeal, 3 Tbsp of power mixture then about 2 cups of water (I put mine in the microwave for 3 min at med power then add Udo's oil and almond milk)
I love this mixture because it adds more punch to my oatmeal and gives me a whole lot more energy. Try it out and let me know what you think.
I am without a doubt very challenged in the creative area when it comes to certain things. I struggle with fashion styles, home interior decorating (most of my walls are still picture-less after 10 years, ouch) and just generally making things look put together. That is why I am so proud of my assisting efforts with this:
A diaper cake- about 120 diapers with socks, spoons, rattle, blanket, soother, stuffed teddy, bib, washcloth and anything else that caught our eye.
Pretty cool I thought. My youngest daughter is taking a babysitting course with 4 other girls and today the group is going for their first lesson since the instructor had a baby 3 weeks ago. My daughter and I thought they should have a baby shower for her so we invited her friends over yesterday and made a cake. Not the edible kind but such a sweet smelling kind. Brought back way too many memories. I saw the baby girl when I dropped my daughter off and she sure is a sweetheart. Now, I giggle to myself as I think of 5, 11 year olds having a baby shower. Kinda cool.
What is your favourite addition to oatmeal?
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Weekend Scoop
Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a great weekend. As I mentioned in my last post, my weekend was jam packed full of hockey provincials and figure skating so we basically spent from Friday to Sunday at the rink. We were hoping to exit the weekend with the gold medal but we had to be content with bronze. 3 good games, 1 toughie. Oh well. The family figure skater was part of a precision team that was invited to guest skate at another carnival.
The most exciting part however was that my oldest turned 18 on Sunday.
Yes, that was a big pause. I have trouble thinking that can be true. Where did the time go?Like every other sentimental mother I tried to retell the story of his birth, from the very beginning. Did I mention if I ever make it to the finals of a beauty pagent, I won't need to work hard finding my talent. I can clear a room in 30. Seconds that is. Well, I enjoyed remembering every detail. My crew came back quickly when they saw there was ice cream cake.
In terms of training, I did sneak in a 5.5 mile run on Sat. It was very sunny and mild (about -2 Celcius) so I was pumped to get my legs moving. I didn't really go into it with a plan but a progression run it turned out to be. My pace started at 9:15 and ended at 8:20. I was happy. I have been working so hard on strengthening exercises for my glutes, hips, quads and hams 4-5 times per week and I feel with every run more power and strength in my push. It feels different and good. I need to just stay with it and not slack. I found different exercises and broke them into 2 groups and alternate each group on different nights. I don't do the exercises the night before running the next morning though.
Planning for runs Tues and Thurs this week and some miles on my bike. I really need to keep gradually increasing my miles to get my body conditioned. Some parts need a bit of time to get used to more time in the saddle.
Hoping for a great week!
What are your favourite strengthening exercises?
The most exciting part however was that my oldest turned 18 on Sunday.
Yes, that was a big pause. I have trouble thinking that can be true. Where did the time go?Like every other sentimental mother I tried to retell the story of his birth, from the very beginning. Did I mention if I ever make it to the finals of a beauty pagent, I won't need to work hard finding my talent. I can clear a room in 30. Seconds that is. Well, I enjoyed remembering every detail. My crew came back quickly when they saw there was ice cream cake.
In terms of training, I did sneak in a 5.5 mile run on Sat. It was very sunny and mild (about -2 Celcius) so I was pumped to get my legs moving. I didn't really go into it with a plan but a progression run it turned out to be. My pace started at 9:15 and ended at 8:20. I was happy. I have been working so hard on strengthening exercises for my glutes, hips, quads and hams 4-5 times per week and I feel with every run more power and strength in my push. It feels different and good. I need to just stay with it and not slack. I found different exercises and broke them into 2 groups and alternate each group on different nights. I don't do the exercises the night before running the next morning though.
Planning for runs Tues and Thurs this week and some miles on my bike. I really need to keep gradually increasing my miles to get my body conditioned. Some parts need a bit of time to get used to more time in the saddle.
Hoping for a great week!
What are your favourite strengthening exercises?
Friday, March 8, 2013
Long run changeup
I have been usually running 3x a week. Tues is a speed, hill or yasso workout, Thurs is tempo or progression run and Sat or Sun is long run. I will cycle on my indoor trainer, cross country ski or do strengthening/stretching/weights on the other days. When the snow is gone and the days warm up, I return to my running more times a week, but for now, this has been my plan.
So, I had a tempo run planned for Thurs but this weekend is crazy busy and I am not sure when or if a long run can even fit in. Some people can run anytime during the day. I have a bit more trouble with that. I like running early in the morning best. I have also run in the early evening like 6 or so which works if I snack well at 3-4:00 because after running in the evening, I rarely eat much. I have also run just before noon which also works well. I work outside the home part time so when I am home on Thurs doing housework and the other tasks of family life, going for a run at 11:00 is a nice break. It also is warmer than it would be first thing in the morning in our Manitoba winters. So because of the time constraints this weekend, I decided to do my long run for the week Thurs and try and squeeze the tempo run later.
I was suited up on Thurs by 11:15, ready to do my long run. Our black lab thought he should come along with me running. His name is Hector but we usually refer to him as H hound. He loves coming and I am sure that when we walk out the door, he looks at our feet first to see if the runners are on. We usually only take him for shorter runs like 5 miles or so but he was beggin so I caved. He ran 10 miles with me, then I dropped him off at home and ran another mile and a half. He was such a trooper, no complaints. I was happy with my pace of around 9 min miles. I haven't figured it out yet but running at a decent pace just doesn't happen for me in the winter. I have done many destination run through the winter, Surf City in 2011 for example and ran down in the 8's where I like to be but then I get back here and I am back into the 9's.
I got home and nicely cleaned up and was eating when the wind picked up and the snow came down hard. (Picture is the view of my backyard) Good timing. My partner enjoyed
the rest of his afternoon sawing logs.
When is your favourite time to run?
So, I had a tempo run planned for Thurs but this weekend is crazy busy and I am not sure when or if a long run can even fit in. Some people can run anytime during the day. I have a bit more trouble with that. I like running early in the morning best. I have also run in the early evening like 6 or so which works if I snack well at 3-4:00 because after running in the evening, I rarely eat much. I have also run just before noon which also works well. I work outside the home part time so when I am home on Thurs doing housework and the other tasks of family life, going for a run at 11:00 is a nice break. It also is warmer than it would be first thing in the morning in our Manitoba winters. So because of the time constraints this weekend, I decided to do my long run for the week Thurs and try and squeeze the tempo run later.
I was suited up on Thurs by 11:15, ready to do my long run. Our black lab thought he should come along with me running. His name is Hector but we usually refer to him as H hound. He loves coming and I am sure that when we walk out the door, he looks at our feet first to see if the runners are on. We usually only take him for shorter runs like 5 miles or so but he was beggin so I caved. He ran 10 miles with me, then I dropped him off at home and ran another mile and a half. He was such a trooper, no complaints. I was happy with my pace of around 9 min miles. I haven't figured it out yet but running at a decent pace just doesn't happen for me in the winter. I have done many destination run through the winter, Surf City in 2011 for example and ran down in the 8's where I like to be but then I get back here and I am back into the 9's.
I got home and nicely cleaned up and was eating when the wind picked up and the snow came down hard. (Picture is the view of my backyard) Good timing. My partner enjoyed
the rest of his afternoon sawing logs.When is your favourite time to run?
Monday, March 4, 2013
Motivational Monday
Well, I learned a lesson from my kids this morning but don't tell them that. Let me back up to breakfast when I told my oldest son that I was so proud of the hard-working ethic he has in his hockey playing. Now, I don't mean to be braggy, just stating it like I see it. He isn't the top goal scorer but boy he sure is a digger. I just wanted to remind him that hard work will always pay off, maybe not with results that you want right when you want them, but it will sometime.
So, through the day, it got me thinking that maybe I needed to listen to my own advice. Got any sugar? Not the easiest going down when it is yourself you are talking about. It seems easier dishing the medicine out to someone else. You see, it has been easy for me to get down on my crummy winter running pace, get frustrated with the little things like shoes that don't feel right, undermine my abilities to reach my running goals for this year,get sick and tired of dealing with tummy troubles, find excuses to be lazy in bed and then feel guilty all day, think I am making no progress and the list goes on and on. When the truth of the matter is, I am working hard. There I said it. I may not know what always works or the right things to do but I am working hard to find out. I was proud of my son for his hard work even if the results don't always show it so shouldn't I also be proud of myself for my hard work when it is sometimes missing the end product I am hoping for?
So today, take time to take some medicine. It really isn't that bitter. It is an acknowledgement of hard effort and work that you have done and the understanding that if you don't see results now, they will show up sometime but for now, you have a treasure you can't read about in a book or find on the internet, it can't be taught or bought. It is passion.
Do you listen to your own advice?
So, through the day, it got me thinking that maybe I needed to listen to my own advice. Got any sugar? Not the easiest going down when it is yourself you are talking about. It seems easier dishing the medicine out to someone else. You see, it has been easy for me to get down on my crummy winter running pace, get frustrated with the little things like shoes that don't feel right, undermine my abilities to reach my running goals for this year,get sick and tired of dealing with tummy troubles, find excuses to be lazy in bed and then feel guilty all day, think I am making no progress and the list goes on and on. When the truth of the matter is, I am working hard. There I said it. I may not know what always works or the right things to do but I am working hard to find out. I was proud of my son for his hard work even if the results don't always show it so shouldn't I also be proud of myself for my hard work when it is sometimes missing the end product I am hoping for?
So today, take time to take some medicine. It really isn't that bitter. It is an acknowledgement of hard effort and work that you have done and the understanding that if you don't see results now, they will show up sometime but for now, you have a treasure you can't read about in a book or find on the internet, it can't be taught or bought. It is passion.
Do you listen to your own advice?
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Weekend Scoop
Hey everyone, happy Sunday! Hope you all have had a great weekend. We had lots going on this weekend in my house.
Ran 4.5 miles on Thurs morning on the treadmill. Kids were home from school on Friday but I managed to sneak in a 3.5 mile run. My youngest daughter had her figure skating carnival that evening. The theme was cartoon characters and she was Strawberry Shortcake. She did a great job and we all enjoyed our evening.
My oldest son was at his 1st hockey playoff game that night a couple hours away. They played the second game back in our community Sat night and since we won both games, we move on to the next round.
Saturday's workout was a whole body strength workout. My boys and I were on a flat part of our roof shoveling snow off for a couple hours. My muscles will say thank you on Monday.
Did a 10 miler this morning with my husband. Ran slow but felt good. Seems to be so hard to get a fast pace going through the winter but the roads were clear and temperature was about -13 Celcius with little wind so a pretty perfect winter run. Legs felt really good unlike last Sunday at the Hypothermic Half Marathon in Regina, Saskatchewan where they were full of lead and then ached the rest of the day. I wore my CEP compression socks after the run for the remainder of the day but my legs ached until I took an anti-inflammatory. I was pretty sure the next day I may be stiff or sore but I felt terrific. Pretty confusing. Sometimes, my legs are very heavy and seem to have little strength. Does this happen to anyone else?
Hypothermic Half Marathon
We gathered the troops up this afternoon and head to the lake about 1/2 hour away for a cross country ski. Lots of laughs. It was a jersey ski so everyone wore their favourite jersey.
Hoping for a great sleep tonight after so much fresh air and exercise today.
Does exercise help you sleep better?
Ran 4.5 miles on Thurs morning on the treadmill. Kids were home from school on Friday but I managed to sneak in a 3.5 mile run. My youngest daughter had her figure skating carnival that evening. The theme was cartoon characters and she was Strawberry Shortcake. She did a great job and we all enjoyed our evening.
My oldest son was at his 1st hockey playoff game that night a couple hours away. They played the second game back in our community Sat night and since we won both games, we move on to the next round.
Saturday's workout was a whole body strength workout. My boys and I were on a flat part of our roof shoveling snow off for a couple hours. My muscles will say thank you on Monday.
Did a 10 miler this morning with my husband. Ran slow but felt good. Seems to be so hard to get a fast pace going through the winter but the roads were clear and temperature was about -13 Celcius with little wind so a pretty perfect winter run. Legs felt really good unlike last Sunday at the Hypothermic Half Marathon in Regina, Saskatchewan where they were full of lead and then ached the rest of the day. I wore my CEP compression socks after the run for the remainder of the day but my legs ached until I took an anti-inflammatory. I was pretty sure the next day I may be stiff or sore but I felt terrific. Pretty confusing. Sometimes, my legs are very heavy and seem to have little strength. Does this happen to anyone else?
Hypothermic Half Marathon
We gathered the troops up this afternoon and head to the lake about 1/2 hour away for a cross country ski. Lots of laughs. It was a jersey ski so everyone wore their favourite jersey.
Hoping for a great sleep tonight after so much fresh air and exercise today.
Does exercise help you sleep better?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)